A South African woman celebrated her 118th birthday Friday as one of the oldest people in the world with a small party at her care home. Margaret Maritz was born on September 27, 1906, according to a copy of her identity card shown to journalists by a charity that helped to organise the party in Touws River, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Cape Town. The document has not been independently verified but if confirmed would make Maritz older than Japanese national Tomiko Itooka who was born on May 23, 1908 and is listed by the US-based Gerontology Research Group as currently the world's oldest living person. Flanked by two of her 14 children, Maritz blew out a candle on a large pink birthday cake at the party in the small town of Touws River. «She talks about her life as a young woman, (saying) you must respect your mother and your father. She didn’t drink, she didn’t smoke,» a senior nurse at the home, Gregory Elroy Adams, told AFP. «We must be grateful,» said one of her daughters, Liza Daniels, 67. «I don’t know if I will reach that age one day. But for me it’s a very, very big privilege to have a mother that reaches this age.» According to the Guinness World Records website, the oldest verified person is French national Jeanne Calment, who died in August 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days. «Several people have been claimed to be older than Jeanne, but there has never been enough evidence to authenticate them,» it says. The oldest known South African died in March 2023 just two months before turning 129. Johanna Mazibuko was born on May 11, 1894 according to her identity papers, although these were not confirmed as authentic by authorities. © Agence France-Presse

The 39th edition of the annual Creole Festival will kick off on October 5 with the 'Moman Kreative' (creative moment), an event that gives school children from primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions a platform to showcase their talents. The month-long Festival, which is an annual celebration of the various aspects of the country's culture, will be held under the theme 'Lakwizin Kreol' (Creole Cuisine). The official launch will take place on October 10. At the unveiling of the event on Tuesday, the permanent secretary for Culture, Cecile Kalebi, gave details on the main activities to be held during the Creole month and said, «The theme has many vibrant colours, food brings people together. It transcends culture and barriers so we feel that everyone will appreciate this theme.» The theme is depicted in the official poster, which shows an elderly Seychellois lady showing the youth how to cook traditional food in a traditional kitchen with the child holding onto a lantern. The poster also displays different kinds of traditional Creole food. Describing the preparation for the annual celebration as intense, Kalebi said that there will be a packed programme with exhibitions, musical shows and bazaars. «This year the programme is not something that only the committee worked on, we also have the involvement of many private entities and individuals. We expect our 39th edition to go well, and hope the people will participate in the different activities we have organised,» she added. David Andre, the secretary general of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA) described the Festival as a major event in Seychelles that displays the Seychellois culture and identity. «No matter what event we organise we always make sure that at the back of it all, its essence valorises our culture, especially for the youth; so they understand it and also take it up in the future. We are confident that we are ready for the Festival. We expect that people will fully engage and participate,» he added. Kalebi confirmed that apart from activities being held in the capital Victoria, there will also be districts doing their activities, including Praslin and La Digue, the second and third most populated islands of Seychelles. Their programmes will be released at a later date. Andre and Kalebi also clarified that decorations for the festival will be unveiled on October 1.

The Supreme Court of Seychelles has sentenced two Ugandan nationals to seven and five years imprisonment for the importation of an illegal substance and a Seychellois involved in the same case was sentenced to seven and five years imprisonment for trafficking in an illegal substance, both of will be served concurrently. Nadia Birungi, 27, was caught on October 5 last year at the International Airport with 449.32 grammes of cocaine, while Mutongole, 39, who also arrived on the same Ethiopian Airlines flight, had in his possession 291.61 grammes of cocaine.  Upon reasonable suspicion after being questioned by customs officers, assisted by officers of the Drug Unit, the two Ugandans were sent for a CT scan and they disclosed at the Seychelles Hospital that they had concealed drugs inside their bodies.    The third person involved in the case was Michael Andrew Jean, who in turn was charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled drug. The 47-year-old resident of Corgate Estate, on the main island of Mahe, was found guilty of trafficking in cocaine brought in by Birungi and Mutongole. The three pleaded guilty to the offences and admitted to the facts presented by the prosecution. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has a zero-tolerance policy towards trafficking and importation of illegal drugs. The maximum penalty for importation of a controlled drug is life imprisonment and a fine of SCR 1 million ($73,000). While the offence of trafficking in controlled drugs carries a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum fine of SCR 750,000 ($55,000). 

Israel on Thursday rejected a push led by its key backer the United States for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon, vowing to keep fighting Hezbollah militants «until victory». Israeli bombing of Iran-backed Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed hundreds of people this week, while the militant group has retaliated with rocket barrages. «There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,» Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had «not even responded» to the truce proposal, and that he had ordered the military «to continue the fighting with full force». The United States, France and other allies called for a 21-day halt, after President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The situation in Lebanon has become «intolerable» and «is in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon», their joint statement said. Macron said later it was «a mistake» for Netanyahu to refuse a ceasefire and that he would have to take «responsibility» for a regional escalation. - Israeli strikes - The Israeli military announced fresh strikes on southern Lebanon and Hezbollah said its fighters had launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel. Lebanon's health ministry said late Thursday that Israeli strikes had killed 92 people in the country and injured 153 in the past 24 hours. Macron warned against Lebanon «becoming a new Gaza», citing the «absolutely shocking» number of civilian casualties. More than 1,500 people have been killed since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah erupted last October, with Thursday's toll bringing the number of people killed  in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since Monday alone to more than 700. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the call for a ceasefire «to provide space for a diplomatic settlement», in a speech to the UN General Assembly. The Israeli defence ministry announced that it had secured a new $8.7-billion aid package from the United States to support the country's ongoing military efforts, underlining Washington's unwillingness to use its military aid as leverage for a ceasefire. - Drones and rockets - The Israeli military said it struck about 75 targets in the eastern Bekaa valley and southern Lebanon, Hezbollah bastions that have seen a huge exodus of civilians fleeing their homes in recent days. According to the International Organization for Migration, about 118,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Lebanon over the past week alone. «It was one of the worst nights we've lived through,» said Fadia Rafic Yaghi, 70, who owns a shop in Baalbek in the Bekaa valley. For the fourth time this week, Israel carried out a strike on Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold, which it said killed the head of the group's drone unit. A source close to Hezbollah told AFP a drone strike targeted a group member in a car east of Beirut, and the official National News Agency reported two more «enemy drone» strikes that killed at least four people. The Israeli military said two barrages of 40 to 45 rockets each had been fired from Lebanon into Israel earlier on Thursday, with many of them intercepted. One man was taken to hospital in moderate condition with shrapnel injuries. Hezbollah said the first barrage targeted defence industry complexes near the port city of Haifa, while the second targeted the northern town of Safed. - 'Have to flee' - Israel said earlier this month it was shifting its focus from the Gaza Strip, where it has been fighting a war with Hamas since the October 7 attack, to its border with Lebanon. Hamas ally Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israeli troops since October, forcing tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee their homes. Netanyahu, who is due to address the UN General Assembly on Friday, has said that ensuring the safe return of Israelis to their homes was a priority. Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, has told soldiers to prepare for a possible ground offensive, according to an army statement. Israeli air force chief Major General Tomer Bar said strikes were aiming to cut off Hezbollah from its arms supplier Iran. For many on both sides of the border, the violence has sparked bitter memories of the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel that killed 1,200 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 160 Israelis, most of them soldiers. Hassan Slim, who left his southern Lebanon home seeking safety in war-battered Syria, said: «We didn't think the situation would degenerate so quickly. »Now war is at our doorstep and we have to flee.« In Israel, some like 67-year-old David Lander, believe war is the only way to restore calm. »I'm against a temporary ceasefire,« said the retired resident of the northern city of Haifa. »I want the citizens of the north to be able to go back to their homes." - Gaza school strike - Diplomats have said efforts to end the war in Gaza were key to halting the fighting in Lebanon. But despite months of mediation efforts involving the United States, a Gaza ceasefire is as elusive as ever. Civil defence workers in Gaza said an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter killed at least 15 people. The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas. The war in Gaza began with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity. Of the 251 hostages seized by militants, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,534 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has described the figures as reliable. © Agence France-Presse

Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Thursday vowed investigations into what he described as «widespread corruption» under the administration in power before April, accusing it of having manipulated financial figures. «The policy of unbridled indebtedness (under former president Macky Sall) has led to the use of resources that is not transparent and that is conducive to widespread corruption,» he told journalists, denouncing the «embezzlement of public funds en masse». Sonko and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye swept to power in Senegal in March on a pledge of radical change in the West African nation. The pair ran on a ticket of social justice, sovereignty and leftist pan-Africanism -- raising hopes in the country battling a high cost of living and widespread unemployment. After being sworn in in April, Faye requested that Sonko conduct a thorough review of the country's financial situation. The government shared the conclusions of the stock-take on Thursday. «We had no idea that things were so catastrophic,» Sonko said, accusing the former authorities of having lied and falsified figures, particularly with international partners. Also speaking at the press conference, Justice Minister Ousmane Diagne said the actions appeared to be «criminal in nature, which the competent judicial authorities will have to determine by means of investigations that they deem appropriate». © Agence France-Presse

To mark its 10th anniversary, Gran Kaz, an entertainment company in Seychelles that has a casino, bars and grills and an art gallery, will host an international boxing tournament, featuring some of Seychelles' top boxers alongside a team from Russia on Friday starting 6 pm local time. The tournament will take place at Gran Kaz Bel Ombre, and Seychelles will have a team of eight Seychellois boxers who will fight against eight boxers from Rostov-on-Don City from Russia. Aside from the eight international  bouts, there will be three additional exhibition fights featuring Seychellois boxers. «The event not only marks the beginning of a series of activities that Gran Kaz will be hosting to mark our 10th anniversary, but it also highlights our ongoing partnership with the Seychelles Boxing Federation, which began a little over two years ago,» said the public relations manager, Shama Amesbury, on Tuesday. Gran Kaz is a big supporter of local boxing and has sponsored several local competitions and brought in a new boxing ring and other equipment to help with the development of the sport locally. Amesbury said, «We are extremely excited to collaborate with them on this International Boxing Competition, which serves as the perfect kick-off to our anniversary celebrations.» The chairman of the Seychelles Boxing Federation (SBF), Jacques Bonne, said that Russia has very good boxers, who have trained at a high level, but the local boxers are well prepared and ready. «The public can expect to see some very good bouts and a very show from our local boxers and our opponents,» he added.   The eight boxers who will feature for Seychelles include Kryan Laporte (60kg), Eric Mussard (67kg), Jovanie Bouzin (71kg), Joshua Cousin (75kg), Jade Micock (71kg), Dasheil Fanchette (80kg), Keddy Agnes (+92kg) and Ricardo Jouanneau (60kg). There are five other boxers who will compete in the exhibition matches, and they are Sebastiano Pirani, Mohamed Williams, Emery Molle, Romano Moustache, and Wes Jean Charles. The competition is being organised through a partnership between Gran Kaz, the Seychelles Boxing Federation, the Ministry for Youth and Sports and the Russian Embassy in Seychelles. The principal secretary for Sports, Ralph Jean-Louis said the Ministry wants to return boxing to its glory days of the 1980s. «This is why we are pushing on several fronts, not only by bringing boxers to Seychelles, but if you remember, last year we had four boxers who went to train in Russia, and two coaches who benefitted with training, so they can better prepare our boxers,» said Jean-Louis. He added that the Ministry wants to send boxers to Russia to train for a year so they can develop and represent Seychelles at the Olympic Games. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has never won a gold medal at the Olympic Games.  

Seychelles' Fitching Ratings at BB- with a positive outlook is a good indication that the country is doing well in regards to the macro-economic indicators set, said a top government official on Thursday. The statement was made by Secretary of State for Finance, Patrick Payet, when giving the the government's reactions to the Fitch Ratings, supported by relatively high-income levels, strong World Bank governance indicators, and support from multilateral creditors.   Fitch said, «Seychelles continues to have strong performance against benchmarks of the International Monetary Fund's Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) programmes, which collectively total $102 million, 4.7 percent of 2023 GDP, worth of funding over three years to 2026, of which 32 percent has already been disbursed.» In his reaction, Payet said, «We have a clear plan as a government and as a country, and also the fiscal policy that we have put in place to reduce our debt to almost 50 percent by 2029.» He said that the government has a primary balance target for 2024 of 1.1 percent of GDP. Payet gave detailed actions that Seychelles is taking to ensure it keeps its outlook good, and this includes a new national strategy plan that sets out what needs to be done in the next five years to diversify the economy and transform the economy. He added that the latest rating will be a useful tool, should the government or private company need to borrow funds from overseas. «Any lending institution will use the rating agencies as an indicator of what is happening in the country to assess the indicative borrowing cost or lending rate for the government or that company. For us, we have good indicators that we can use when negotiating a lending rate and interest rate with the financial institutions overseas or if we want to maybe have a bond in the overseas market in the future,» he added. Payet said, «A very good interest rate will minimise the interest borrowing cost in the budget, so it will allow the revenue that you are collecting to invest in public infrastructure or social services and social infrastructure as well to be used for the country.» He said that Fitch Ratings has examined the monetary policies and «seen that it is in good shape and our financial system is stable, we have political stability and that one of the vulnerabilities we have is in regards to climate change.» Seychelles is heavily exposed to risks from climate change, with impacts already being felt primarily through the rising intensity and frequency of storms and flooding that are rendering some coastal infrastructure unusable. Payet said the rating «allows for more foreign direct investment (FDI), so investors when they are coming into our country, they will use those indicators and this will attract more FDI and this will create more growth for the country and as a result, more employment will be created.» 

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion to designate Seychelles Deaf Language as an official national language, marking a significant milestone for the islands' hearing-impaired populationin. The motion was brought forward by Regina Esparon, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) elected member for Glacis, on behalf of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus, coinciding with the Deaf Week 2024.  During the session, members conveyed their solidarity with those suffering from hearing loss and their appreciation for the professionals and volunteers who serve this group. They pledged to keep improving the lives of people who are impacted. In her presentation, Esparon emphasised that more than 1,000 people in Seychelles are deaf or have hearing loss and that the Association for Deaf People was established in 2005 to ensure that individuals can enjoy their rights without discrimination. «Sign language is essential for communicating with deaf individuals, yet many are often deprived of this right, hindering their emotional and educational development. This exclusion limits their job opportunities and integration into society. By making Sign Language an official, we empower them to lead fulfilling lives,» said Esparon.   She underlined the need to give deaf students access to sign language instruction and the right to a high-quality education in an inclusive setting. Many deaf children around the world are not given access to their basic education and access to public services intended to support them is made more difficult by a lack of knowledge about sign language. Esparon called for greater educational initiatives to accommodate all students with hearing problems up to the university level and demanded that sign language be used in media and organisations. Under the direction of Anita Gardner, sign language is currently taught at Mont Fleuri, where students study a variety of disciplines, including home economics. In support of the motion, every member from both parties, the other being United Seychelles (US), who spoke during the intervening period emphasised its advantages for people with hearing impairments as well as their rights to live normal lives in inclusive settings without being excluded because of their disability. SNA spoke to Anita Gardner, chairperson of the Association for People with Hearing Impairment (APHI) who expressed her excitement about the motion's approval. «This decision will finally align governmental policy to international standards. Seychelles has already signed conventions relating to the rights of people with disabilities, that state that Seychelles Sign Language must be recognised. This is a big achievement for the Association. It is a victory for people who are hearing impaired, where they may also feel equal with the same level of importance as everyone else,» she said. Gardner added that making Sign Language a national language would now mean so much more for the youth. «Language is how we access information and education. It is their right to be recognised and to be able to contribute to society. Its inclusion in schools will be obligatory. Where kids will have the option to learn this language,» she added. 

Climate change remains the foremost challenge facing humanity, and failure to address its effects will devastate current and future generations, said Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan in his address on Wednesday at the 79th United Nations General Assembly Plenary Session in New York.   Ramkalwan said that as a small island state, Seychelles understands what it means to be vulnerable. «A vulnerability that cannot be ignored in the future we see for ourselves. We are on the front lines of the climate crisis, which poses irreversible threats to our people, our economy and our way of life. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the degradation of our oceans are stark reminders of the urgent need for global action on climate change,» he added. «We have all made commitments, pledges and promises to achieve large-scale reductions of emissions to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees (Celsius). To boost adaptation to deal with extreme weather disasters and build resilience to address future impacts. But words are nothing without deeds and we have to act urgently, in unity, to make the necessary transition to a more sustainable future,» said the Seychelles' President. Ramkalwan said that world military expenditure has increased for the 10th  consecutive year, reaching 2.5 trillion dollars in 2023 and this makes even the highest estimates of the funds - 100 billion dollars needed for loss and damage -  seem modest and insignificant. «This is a worrying reflection of the world's priorities. It is unfair for SIDS (Small Island Developing States) to suffer the consequences of these choices. We simply do not have the means to cope with the disastrous effects of climate change,» he emphasised. Ramkalawan thanked those who have contributed to the Loss and Damage Fund and said that the pledges made following COP28 should not be mere attempts to pacify those who have been calling for remediation. «We hope to take it as a token of ongoing commitment and continued action, given the expected rise in costs of dealing with climate change. As the Secretary General said yesterday: »Those who shoulder the blame should foot the bill,« he added. Ramkalawan spoke about the existing conflicts and said, »The world is less secure than even just one year ago. Where we hoped that existing conflicts could be resolved, we find ourselves in a situation more tense and precarious. Flames stoked by competition and distrust threaten to engulf those who have no part in these conflicts - leaving us gripped by a fearful atmosphere of instability, exacerbated by the worry of expanded warfare.« He said that 79 years ago, the permanent members of the Security Council conferred upon themselves the great responsibility of ensuring international peace and security.   »With this great responsibility comes the expectation that gross violations of the UN Charter be dealt with resolutely, and impartially. We place our trust in them to act in the common interest, to prevent conflict and preserve human dignity,« he added. He stressed that widened and prolonged conflict risks affecting smaller states like Seychelles trying not to get caught in the crossfire. »It is not our intention to lecture the world powers nor attempt to prescribe solutions to complex issues. We simply wish to remind you of your duty and be reassured that geopolitics will not supersede human rights and international law,« said the Seychelles' President.  He spoke on the Security Council and said that since its formation in 1946, and said that since its formation in 1946, it has remained largely unchanged. »Seychelles joins the call for the UN and the Security Council to deliver the reform being appealed for by so many – with the objective not to hinder its work but to bring inclusivity and perspective. It is time to correct one of the many injustices to which Africa has been subjected. Permanent membership of the world's primary peace-keeping institution is a necessity,« he stated. Ramkalawan spoke about ambitious and innovative strategies for securing long-term economic development which he said are futile without finance that is accessible and sustainable. »The average debt-to-GDP ratio in SIDS exceeds 70 percent. It is crippling and impedes our development by diverting critical resources away from where they are needed most: in infrastructure, education and healthcare. Our vulnerabilities have been expounded, yet our borrowing costs remain high. Instead of concessions, we are penalised for our vulnerability,« he added. He said it is time to move beyond discussion and implement real reforms in the international financial system to address the preclusion of some vulnerable countries, regardless of income status, from opportunities to meet development needs. Ramkalawan also spoke about the multilateral system saying »It remains our best hope for addressing the challenges we face. As a small state, Seychelles believes in the United Nations, for we fear a reality with no alternative. In a world more interconnected than ever, multilateralism is the network that links our shared values to achieve the vision that we have for our world. One that is defined by our common interests and not by our differences.« He highlighted the BBNJ Agreement adopted in 2023 and Seychelles becoming the fourth and the first in Africa, to ratify it in 2024 and urged other countries to hasten its ratification so as not to delay its entry into force. Ramkalwan also talked about the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) resolution adopted last month and said it represents a triumph of the multilateral system to consider new approaches to complex and evolving issues. »Its data and findings deliver the empirical grounding for what we know to be true: that a single-layered approach to development is no longer accurate nor adequate. A better understanding of precisely these multidimensional vulnerabilities will be crucial for the decisions that we take and, more importantly, those taken on our behalf,« he added. Ramkalwan also talked about the Pact for the Future adopted recently, which includes a Declaration on Future Generations. »For Seychelles, the Declaration on Future Generations should signal our commitment to safeguarding the rights of all people who will be born by the end of this century, most of whom are in developing countries. People who should not be born into hardship. We must envision a world where survival is not a struggle. A world that ensures everyone's right to prosperity,« he added. The Seychelles' President concluded his address by saying, »I firmly believe that these are the foundations on which our cooperation and progress should be built. The things that our people need the most and what should guide us to building a world that is more secure and sustainable. Let us strive to be the architects of a world where no one is left behind."

Authorities in Seychelles will embark on a series of discussions with stakeholders to draft climate legislation, said a government minister at a regional seminar on interparliamentary cooperation on climate change. The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, announced this in his address at the closing ceremony of a two-day seminar held for parliamentarians on Tuesday. Parliamentarians in the Indian Ocean region countries met to decide the parameters they would like to include in an upcoming climate law for their respective countries. The workshop was held by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), through its Governance, Peace and Stability (GPS) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, and financed by the French Development Agency. «We will be meeting members of the National Assembly, the executive, and members of the public to discuss how we can come up with environmental legislation that encompasses all our global needs,» said Joubert. It was pointed out in the seminar, that although the countries in the Indian Ocean are not major contributors to global warming, they are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, Damien Cesselin, explained that his organisation would offer these small islands, «The much-needed platform where the island states can compare the different practices and help them draft the policies and legislations for their respective countries.» Parliamentarians discussed various topics including regional cooperation for sustainable management of natural resources, the importance of finding proper financing for climate mitigation and resilience projects in the Indian Ocean. Those who attended the meeting made commitments to meet regularly to work together to draft a piece of regulation that meets the Paris Agreement while keeping in line with the countries' particularities. In 2024, almost 10 years after the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement on 12 December 2015, very few Indian Ocean countries have created a legislative framework to implement the objectives of the Paris Agreement. This has made it more difficult for these countries to access climate financing. While all IOC member states, as parties to the Paris Agreement, have established agreements, put in place policy or strategic frameworks drawn up by their governments for climate adaptation to climate change. In the countries participating in the seminar, only Mauritius has a law on climate change. 

A pet-loving part-time musician is fast becoming a global star by gently poking fun at Donald Trump for suggesting that Haitian immigrants are making a meal of America's cats and dogs. «Eating the cats», a parody song by The Kiffness which sets to music Trump's extraordinary claims during the US presidential debate that migrants in Ohio «are eating the dogs, eating the cats», has been viewed more than 8.7 million times on YouTube alone in 12 days. «People of Springfield please don't eat my cat,» pleads the South African singer, whose real name is David Scott. «Why would you do that?/ Eat something else.» He then helpfully holds up a card suggesting a range of other mostly veggie options, including broccoli, avocados and poached eggs. The singer, who has been slowly building a following for his feel-good songs about pets and children -- because «they tend to unite people» -- has seen his popularity soar since he got his singing claws into Trump. Although he insists he is not attacking anybody, just giving some cat- and dog-friendly dietary advice. «I think music has a powerful way of taking away negative energy and polarising feelings, especially with someone like Donald Trump, who is such a polarising figure,» he told AFP before his band gave a concert in Paris. - Not trying to hurt anyone - «I want my music to unite people. And I think that's why I moved towards music that included animals. Because animals unite people,» said the 36-year-old from Cape Town. The video, which has been watched by millions more on social media, shows Trump's rival Kamala Harris reacting to his widely-derided claims during their debate earlier this month. A couple of cats and dogs also chip in with vocals, and equally incredulous looks. Scott said all the earnings from the song are going to help pets and stray cats and dogs in Springfield, with more than $20,000 already raised. «I've never seen anything like it,» he told AFP. «The interest has been overwhelming from both sides, from Democrats, from Republicans.» He said the song was not «laughing at the situation, it's saying that you can rise above it... and just see the humour in things,» said the musician, who describes himself on X as a «Christian, husband, father (and) part-time musician». Springfield's mayor, police and Ohio's Republican governor have all said there is no evidence to back up Trump's claims that Haitian migrants were eating the city's pets. But that has not stopped his running mate JD Vance -- an Ohio senator -- from doubling down on the claims, despite being widely mocked. «My constituents are telling me firsthand that they're seeing these things,» an unapologetic Vance told CNN. This prompted Haitian groups in Springfield to file charges against Trump and Vance Wednesday over the threats to their community since the pair amplified the false online rumours. © Agence France-Presse

Two top Israeli ministers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government on Thursday rejected a proposal for a ceasefire in Lebanon and called for continuing the fight against Hezbollah. The United States, European Union and other allies including several Arab states issued a joint call for a 21-day halt in fighting in Lebanon after Israeli air strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands in Lebanon this week. The appeal for the three-week ceasefire came hours after Israeli military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, on Wednesday told soldiers to prepare for a possible ground offensive against Hezbollah. Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key member of the cabinet, opposed the ceasefire proposal, insisting that continuing the war against Hezbollah was the only way forward. Netanyahu's coalition relies on the support of Smotrich and other far-right members who consistently also opposed a truce in the Gaza war, which has not stopped. «The campaign in the north should end with a single result: crushing Hezbollah and elimination of its ability to harm the residents of the north,» Smotrich said on social media platform X. «The enemy must not be given time to recover from the heavy blows it has suffered and reorganise itself to continue the war after 21 days,» he said. «Hezbollah's surrender or war -- this is the only way to bring back the residents and security to the north and the country.» In a separate statement on X, Foreign Minister Israel Katz also opposed any halt to fighting. «There will be no ceasefire in the north. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,» Katz said, referring to tens of thousands who have been displaced by nearly a year of cross-border clashes which escalated this week. - Gaza - Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid said the Israeli government should only agree to a seven-day ceasefire. This would «prevent Hezbollah from restoring its command and control systems,» Lapid said on X. «We will not accept any proposal that does not include the withdrawal of Hezbollah from our northern border.» Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has also been a strong advocate of continuing the war in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been battling Palestinian militants from the Islamist group Hamas since October 7. The Gaza war erupted when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel from Lebanon a day later in what it says is solidarity with Hamas. Since then Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in fierce cross-border clashes, which worsened this week when Israel launched a withering bombing campaign in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah sites in the deadliest violence since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. © Agence France-Presse

The Assumption Hotel development project in Seychelles has been submitted to the Planning Authority, which is the final phase before work begins. The announcement was made by Glenny Savy, the managing director of the government-owned Islands Development Company (IDC), in a familiarisation visit by Seychellois journalists to the island. Assumption Island, located some 800 kilometres southwest of the main island of Mahe, is part of the Aldabra group and is managed by the Islands Development Company. The Qatar-based developer, Assets Development Company, which owns several luxury tourist establishments in the Maldives and elsewhere in the world,  plans to build 37 luxury villas and 4 restaurants on the island. «For the time being, we are awaiting permission from the Planning Authority before going ahead with the project,» said Savy. This tourism project is attracting a great deal of interest from the public, and many precautions are being taken to ensure that all aspects concerning the protection of the island's environment are taken into account. For the time being, IDC has planted spikes in the ground to mark out future villas. (Rassin Vannier, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY          «We came to Assumption last week to gain a better understanding of the project to be developed on this island, and if all goes well in the next six to eight weeks we should be in a position to give an answer,' said Cyril Bonnelame, chairman of the board of the Planning Authority.    For the time being, IDC has planted spikes in the ground to demarcate the future villas and huts have also been installed, ready to house the employees of IDC construction, the company that will be carrying out the work.   To begin with, IDC has already extended the airstrip by 800 metres, bringing the total length to 2 kilometres. Ultimately, the Assumption project will serve to develop tourism in the southern islands of the archipelago, in particular the islands of Astove and Consmoledo, as well as the Aldabra Atoll, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), which manages Aldabra, has called for the project to be halted so that more detailed studies can be carried out to ensure that there is no danger to the reserve, home to the world's largest population of giant land tortoises. Savy explained that he had had a meeting with the board of directors of the SIF, at which further studies were requested, and all their requests were approved. To begin with, IDC has already extended the runway by 800 metres, bringing the total length to 2 kilometres. (Rassin Vannier, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY          To carry out such a project, the promoter had to recruit the non-governmental organisation, Island Conservation Seychelles (ICS), to draw up the Class 1 environmental impact plan. »This is the first time we have done a project like this, but we have qualified scientists who have worked on several islands in the region, and we even had to put in place a biosafety and biodiversity plan,' said Norman Weber, chairman of the board of ICS. He said that the plan was submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, which accepted it. According to the environmental impact plan, the villas will be built some 40 metres from the fine sandy beach of Assumption, and Weber said, it is far enough from the shore not to disturb the sea turtles that are present in the lagoon throughout the year to lay their eggs.   Given that Assumption is an island without water or electricity, IDC plans to build all the infrastructure necessary for life on the island to function properly. Assumption's rocky desert soil, after the island was exploited for its guano reserves. (Rassin Vannier, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  IDC, which already has this expertise on the island of Desroches, plans to reproduce the same model, namely the construction of a photovoltaic cell producing between 4 and 5 megawatts. This will supply all the electricity and a small desalination plant, an incinerator and a wastewater treatment centre.    Savy said that IDC will build all the infrastructure to accommodate 300 hotel staff and 100 company employees who will be permanently on the island once the project is completed. If all goes according to plan, Savy plans to start work at the beginning of December. «The first phase of the project, which consists of building the infrastructure, is expected to cost between $42 million (SCR562 million) and $45 million (SCR603 million), and a further contract will be awarded to finish the project,» he added. Work is expected to take between 24 and 30 months, with the hotel expected to open between March and April 2026.  Assumption Island is located some 800 kilometres southwest of the main island of Mahe. (Rassin Vannier, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY 

World leaders lined up at the United Nations on Tuesday to call on Israel to refrain from a full-scale war in Lebanon, with the organization's chief warning the situation was on the «brink.» The UN General Assembly, the high point of the international diplomatic calendar, comes after Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes had killed 558 people -- 50 of them children. «Full-scale war is not in anyone's interest. Even though the situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible,» US President Joe Biden said in his farewell address to the global body. «In fact, it remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely,» Biden said ahead of an emergency UN Security Council session on Lebanon planned for Wednesday. Biden's remarks drew disappointment from Lebanon's foreign minister Abdullah Bou Habib who said they were «not promising» and «would not solve the Lebanese problem,» as he estimated that the number of people displaced by Israel's strikes has likely soared to reach half a million. «We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink,» UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said when he opened the gathering. Israel's ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said his country was «not eager» for a ground invasion of Lebanon. «We don't want to send our boys to fight in a foreign country,» he said. - 'End this war' - It is unclear what progress can be made to defuse the situation in Lebanon, with efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza -- which Israel has relentlessly pounded since October 2023 -- coming to nothing. Biden on Tuesday pushed again for an elusive ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, telling the global body it was time to «end this war.» Mediator Qatar accused Israel of obstructing Gaza ceasefire talks, with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani saying «there is no Israeli partner for peace» under the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. But he added: «We will continue our efforts of mediation to resolve the disputes through peaceful means.» Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of dragging the entire region «into war.» «Not only children but also the UN system is dying in Gaza,» Erdogan said in a scathing speech. Guterres cautioned against «the possibility of transforming Lebanon (into) another Gaza,» calling the situation in the Palestinian territory a «non-stop nightmare.» European Council President Charles Michel said that Israel had the right to exist and defend itself but without inflicting «collective punishment» on civilians living in areas targeted by its military. President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran -- which backs Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza -- condemned «senseless and incomprehensible» inaction by the UN against Israel. - 'Charade of hypocrisy' - Responding to criticism of Israel, Danon called the General Assembly debate an «annual charade of hypocrisy.» «When the UN Secretary-General speaks about the release of our hostages, the UN assembly is silent, but when he speaks about the suffering in Gaza, he receives thunderous applause,» Danon said. Since last year's annual gathering, when Sudan's civil war and Russia's Ukraine invasion dominated, the world has faced an explosion of crises. The October 7 attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people and prompted a military response in Gaza that authorities say has killed at least 41,467 people. Militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Violence has raged across multiple fronts in the Middle East since the crisis erupted, with the conflict exposing deep divisions at the UN. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas took his seat alongside the Palestinian delegation, placed in alphabetical order in the General Assembly for the first time on Tuesday after the delegation received upgraded privileges in May. At the rostrum, Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday ruled out the forced displacement by Israel of Palestinians to his country, which he said would be a «war crime.» Ukraine was also on the agenda Tuesday with President Volodymyr Zelensky addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the Russian invasion. «Russia can only be forced into peace, and that is exactly what's needed -- forcing Russia into peace,» Zelensky said. Biden said that Russian President Vladimir «Putin's war has failed at its core aim. He set out to destroy Ukraine, but Ukraine is still free.» © Agence France-Presse

Nigeria on Tuesday demanded a permanent seat for African countries on the United Nations Security Council and called for the cancellation of its debt owed to international lenders. Currently, the Security Council has five permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. All hold a veto on any Security Council resolution. Addressing the UN's 79th general assembly in New York, Kashim Shettima, vice president of Africa's most populous nation, insisted that the «Security Council should be expanded». «Our continent deserves a place in the permanent members' category of the Security Council, » said Shettima, representing head of state Bola Tinubu. That should come «with the same rights and responsibilities as other permanent members», he added -- notably the power of veto. Speaking to American broadcaster MSNBC, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said «Nigeria needs to be in that security council as a permanent member». Nigeria's continental rival South Africa is also eyeing a seat at the top table. Earlier in the month, the United States ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Washington would support the creation of two additional permanent seats for African countries on the Security Council. However, she said the new entrants would not have the right to veto. The Nigerian vice president also called for a «reform of the international financial system», urging the cancellation of the debt Nigeria owed to multilateral institutions. Shettima argued «nationalism» and self-interest were undermining the fight against various global issues, including terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, poverty, racism, debt, hunger and climate change. He urged UN member states to recommit to multilateralism to «sustain the global body's relevance and resilience». Shettima also denounced unconstitutional changes of governments in some African countries in recent years -- a reference to coups that have plagued fellow West African countries. The juntas in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso came to power in a series of coups over recent years and have pulled out of the regional bloc ECOWAS. Shettima warned democracy was «fragile» if not supported by peace, security, and economic development. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles has established diplomatic ties with three countries in the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. Seychelles formalised diplomatic relations with Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, and Uzbekistan as part of its commitment to proactively enhance its bilateral engagement across the globe. This was done by Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, through the signing of three Joint Communiqués on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with the three countries. The Department of Foreign Affairs said that the establishment of diplomatic with the three countries is expected to pave the way for the deepening of bilateral relations and to promote exchanges in various fields of mutual interest.    

Law enforcement officers from Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Comoros have been awarded certificates after completing a weeklong training programme on «Conspiracy and Complex Investigations.» According to a press statement from the United States Embassy to Seychelles on Wednesday, the training, held at the Laila Resort in Anse Royale, was conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy. The training, led by a team of experienced DEA trainers, covered a wide range of topics crucial for combatting organised crime, including money laundering, cryptocurrency, intelligence analysis, and interview techniques. Speaking at the launch of the training, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, Adham Loutfi, emphasised the importance of such initiatives in the global fight against organised crime. He noted that the training is designed to equip officers with advanced skills and knowledge, essential for identifying, understanding, and dismantling sophisticated criminal networks. «The fight against organised crime is a global endeavor that requires cooperation, innovation, and unwavering resolve,» said Loutfi and added «The DEA trainers bring a wealth of experience and insights that will enhance the participants' abilities to address these complex challenges. This training on »Conspiracy and Complex Investigations" marks the third DEA-led training session held in Seychelles this year and underscores the strong collaboration between the United States and Seychelles, said the Embassy. It brought together police officers, customs officials, financial intelligence experts, and anti-corruption investigators from across the region, fostering opportunities for networking and collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. In September last year, law enforcement officers from the same Indian Ocean countries participated in an advanced counter-narcotics training course conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The goal of the training was to address issues such as criminal activities and corruption, by enhancing law enforcement capacity to investigate narcotics trafficking across the region given new development in the way of trafficking and creating new drugs, especially synthetic drugs. 

The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) has announced that it is maintaining an accommodative monetary policy for the final quarter of 2024, although it remains vigilant about various factors that could affect the island nation's economy. The governor of the CBS, Caroline Abel, made the announcement on Tuesday in a press conference in which she shared that the monetary policy rate will remain at 1.75 percent. «We have taken this decision based on the evaluation of information on international developments that can affect Seychelles, and also developments in the financial systems and the domestic economy,» said Abel. She explained that CBS has seen an improvement in developments in the major economies of the world. Falling inflation has seen several central banks cut their policy rates in recent months, such as the Bank of England, which reduced their key interest rate by 25 basis points, the first cut since March 2020. The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank announced its long-awaited rate cut of 50 basis points in September 2024, which marked its first reduction in four years. In the same month, the European Central Bank reduced its key policy rates by 25 basis points, its second successive rate cut since June 2024. Since the start of the year, the price of food and oil has typically climbed internationally and in July, oil prices hit $85 per barrel, up from $80 per barrel in January 2024. This was a result of ongoing oil production cuts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other partner nations (OPEC+), as well as price pressures brought on by Middle East geopolitical unrest. However, oil prices hovered around $70 per barrel in September 2024 on account of sluggish global demand for oil. Abel said, «We have to take into account that the countries that produce oil, have extended the length of time that they will increase production, which means that with that, there could be some pressures, but in general the price has gone down.»   The rising demand for different commodities and the possibility of unfavourable weather events are expected to drive up food costs internationally in the coming months. The geopolitical disputes in the Middle East and the Black Sea region may result in longer shipping routes and greater freight costs, which could worsen the previously outlined outlook for global food and oil prices, according to CBS. Locally, tourism continues to drive the Seychelles' economy, although as at September 15, a total of 241,344 visitors arrived in the country, 0.08 percent less than it was in 2023 over the same time frame. The number of tourists has grown at a slower rate than it did at the beginning of the year, mainly due to a decline in arrivals from important source markets including France, the UK, Italy, and Russia. Traveller arrivals are anticipated to rise in the fourth quarter due to enhanced air connectivity brought about by multiple carriers starting flights again. The yield per tourist is anticipated to stay low, nevertheless, due to increased competition in other locations. On the foreign exchange market's developments, as of September 20, 2024, both supply and demand had increased overall compared to the same period in 2023. During the same period, there was a decline in the value of the domestic currency relative to the major currencies that were exchanged. Future foreign exchange inflows will primarily depend on how well the tourism industry performs, while demand for foreign exchange is anticipated to rise in tandem with the fourth quarter's economic uptick. From May 2024, there has been an increase in the annual inflation rate and as a result, August 2024 saw an increase in average prices for goods and services of 0.5 percent over August 2023. However, the 12-month average inflation rate in August 2024 was negative 0.9 percent and for the domestic pricing outlook, a gradual rise in inflation is projected over the medium term. «We have to remain vigilant and continue to follow what is happening in the world, as there are things that can happen so fast and affect Seychelles, and so we must all prepare ourselves so that any of these issues will not affect us too much,» concluded Abel.

Escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah threatened to overshadow US President Joe Biden's final appearance at the UN's signature annual event on Tuesday as diplomats scrambled to avert an all-out regional war. The gathering of dozens of world leaders, the high point of the diplomatic calendar, comes a day after Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed more than 490 people, according to local authorities. As world leaders gathered in Manhattan Monday for the annual flurry of speeches and face-to-face diplomacy, UN Security Council member France called for an emergency meeting on the crisis engulfing the Middle East. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman said he was «gravely alarmed» as focus shifted from Gaza to Lebanon, and the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell warned «we are almost in a full-fledged war.» Israel's closest ally the United States again warned against a full-blown ground invasion of Lebanon, with a senior US official promising to bring «concrete» ideas for de-escalation to the UN this week. It is unclear what progress can be made to defuse the situation in Lebanon as efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, which Israel has relentlessly pounded since October 2023, have come to nothing. «Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan will be the dominant issues,»  said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group think tank, adding he expected many leaders to «warn that the UN will become irrelevant globally if it cannot help make peace.» More than 100 heads of state and government are scheduled to speak during the UN's centerpiece event, which will run until Monday. - 'Out-of-control' - Since last year's annual gathering, when Sudan's civil war and Russia's Ukraine invasion dominated, the world has faced an explosion of crises. «International challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them,» Guterres warned ahead of the gathering. The October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Israel and the ensuing violence in the Middle East has exposed deep divisions in the global body. With Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas expected to address the General Assembly this week, there could be combustible moments. On Tuesday, representatives of Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, Iran and Algeria are slated to take the podium to press for a Gaza ceasefire after nearly one year of war. Ukraine will also be on the agenda Tuesday when President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a UN Security Council meeting on Russia's war on Ukraine. «I invite all leaders and nations to continue supporting our joint efforts for a just and peaceful future,» Zelensky told the UN on Monday. «Putin has stolen much already, but he will never steal the world's future.» - 'Behind the scenes' - It is unclear if the grand diplomatic gathering can achieve anything for the millions mired in conflict and poverty globally. «Any real diplomacy to reduce tensions will take place behind the scenes,» Gowan said. «This may be an opportunity for Western and Arab diplomats to have some quiet conversations with the Iranians about the need to stop the regional situation spinning out of control.» Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has called for an urgent meeting of Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly over the crisis in Lebanon. Guterres cautioned against «the possibility of transforming Lebanon (into) another Gaza.» © Agence France-Presse

Sri Lanka's leftist president-elect on Sunday invited his compatriots to help him «rewrite» history in the cash-strapped island nation after winning a vote coloured by discontent over an unprecedented financial crisis. Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the 55-year-old leader of the People's Liberation Front, was declared the winner of the weekend's poll with nearly 1.3 million more votes than his nearest rival. The once-fringe leader, whose party won less than four percent of the vote in parliamentary elections four years ago, saw a surge of support as the economic meltdown forced widespread hardships upon Sri Lankans. «The dream we have nurtured for centuries is finally coming true,» he said in a statement shortly after the announcement. «This victory belongs to all of us,» he added. «Millions of eyes filled with hope and expectation push us forward, and together, we stand ready to rewrite Sri Lankan history.» Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe -- who took office at the peak of the 2022 economic collapse and imposed tough austerity policies per the terms of an IMF bailout -- was a distant third in the contest with 17 percent of the vote. «History will judge my efforts, but I can confidently say that I did my best to stabilise the country during one of its darkest periods,» he said in a statement. He congratulated Dissanayaka on the win and said he was «confident» the politician would «steer Sri Lanka on a path of continued growth and stability». US ambassador Julie Chung also passed on her congratulations, saying in a statement that Washington stood «ready to work together on shared priorities» with his administration. Dissanayaka will be sworn in on Monday morning at the colonial-era President Secretariat in Colombo, election commission officials said. - IMF deal - Economic issues dominated the eight-week campaign, with widespread public anger over the belt-tightening measures imposed by Wickremesinghe since the peak of the island nation's bruising financial crisis. Dissanayaka would «not tear up» the IMF deal but would seek to modify it, a party politburo member told AFP. «It is a binding document, but there is a provision to renegotiate,» said Bimal Ratnayake. He said Dissanayaka had vowed to reduce income taxes that were doubled by Wickremesinghe and slash sales taxes on food and medicines. «We think we can get those reductions into the programme and continue with the four-year bailout programme,» he said. Dissanayaka's once-marginal Marxist party led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that left more than 80,000 people dead. But Sri Lanka's crisis has proven an opportunity for Dissanayaka, whose popularity rocketed on his pledge to change the island's «corrupt» political culture. Around 76 percent of Sri Lanka's 17.1 million eligible voters cast ballots in Saturday's poll. Dissanayaka's party sought to reassure India that any administration he led would not be caught up in geopolitical rivalry between its northern neighbour and China, the country's largest lender. New Delhi has previously expressed concerns over what it sees as Beijing's growing influence in Sri Lanka, which sits on vital shipping lanes criss-crossing the Indian Ocean. «Sri Lankan territory will not be used against any other nation,» Ratnayake told AFP. «We are fully aware of the geopolitical situation in our region, but we will not participate.» Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X he was looking forward «to working closely with (Dissanayaka) to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of our people and the entire region». - Austerity rejected - Wickremesinghe sought re-election to continue the austerity policies that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages during Sri Lanka's economic meltdown. His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who then fled the country. But Wickremesinghe's tax hikes and other measures imposed under the $2.9 billion IMF rescue package he secured last year left millions struggling to make ends meet. Official data showed that Sri Lanka's poverty rate doubled to 25 percent between 2021 and 2022, adding more than 2.5 million people to those already living on less than $3.65 a day. Thousands of police were deployed to keep watch over voting on Saturday. A temporary curfew was imposed after polls closed, despite police reporting that there had been no violence during or after balloting. No victory rallies or celebrations are permitted until a week after the final results are declared. © Agence France-Presse

Team Seychelles for the First Global Robotic Challenge received their sending-off on Friday and the vice-captain remains confident of getting a good outcome from the competition that will take place September 26 to 29 in Athens, Greece. Team Seychelles received their travel itinerary, travel insurance, and several promotional items with the Seychelles brand during the ceremony. The Team left Seychelles on Monday.   Denis Hoareau said, «We received the kits just four weeks ago, so we have already lost quite a bit of time, then we encountered some issues while building it as kept breaking down. However, last night (Thursday) we worked until 8 pm and thankfully we were able to figure it all out in time.» Hoareau added, «We are confident about our performance. Our robot is good. I think we'll be in at least the top 20 or top 15 this time.» The competition brings together school students of 14-17 years from around the world to participate in a STEM - science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - challenge. It aims to inspire youth to pursue careers in STEM fields, promote cultural exchange, and foster a global community of young innovators, who can address global challenges through technology and collaboration. Each year, the competition focuses on a specific theme related to real-world issues, such as energy efficiency, water quality, or pollution. Members of the core team will represent Seychelles at the Challenge. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  The First Global Robotics Challenge 2024 selection process was done on June 11 and 12, and 31 students from state and private schools were part of the selection process. Members of the core team will represent Seychelles at the Challenge, whereas members of the Supporting Team will have the valuable opportunity to assist the team locally in mounting and working on the robot, but will not be travelling for the competition. The team will be accompanied by three chaperones and one of them is Daniella Athanase, principal education officer for educational technology at the Ministry of Education. Athanase said, «Definitely our expectations are high. Morale is also high for the kids and they are aiming to be among the best in the competition. We will go all out to give our best.» During his address, the principal secretary for Education Sector Development, John Lesperance, said, «Members of Team Seychelles, we believe in your incredible potential, and we are here to provide the right support and opportunities for you to realise your dream. Your success is not only a reflection of your hard work and dedication but also of the collective effort of everyone who supports and believes in you. You have demonstrated exceptional teamwork.» In the past, the First Global Robotics Challenge was usually led by the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry through the Department for Science, Technology and Innovation. Lesperance announced that next year, the Ministry of Education will take full responsibility for the Robotics Challenge. «This means a renewed commitment to nurturing young talent and providing more structured opportunities for students to excel in such competitions. To all secondary and professional centre students aged 14 to 17, I encourage you to start preparing now. Research, learn, and get ready to join future teams,» he added. The Minister for Education, Dr Justin Valentin, described the participants as pioneers of a more technologically advanced Seychelles in the future. He asked them to embrace the competition with enthusiasm and to take this opportunity to learn as much as they could. «Embrace the competition with excitement, but more importantly seize the chance to learn, to evolve, and to leave a mark on the world. You have the power to inspire, the power to lead by example, and the power to showcase the incredible talent of Seychelles,» said Valentin.

Seychelles' tourism authorities are optimistic about the first direct and non-stop charter flight operated by Sichuan Airlines, from Chengdu Province in China due in November. The principal secretary for tourism, Sherin Francis, said that they expect an increase in the number of visitors from the destination, while speaking to reporters after an introduction to the Chengdu event at the Chinese Embassy on Friday. The event was held to show local businesses and tourism operatives in Seychelles what kind of opportunities are available in the Chinese Province. Francis said, «The direct flights will boost tourism arrivals from China and will help us diversify our markets as we have to reduce our dependence on our traditional markets.» The Seychelles' economy is heavily reliant on tourism, with most of its visitors coming from European countries. According to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics on September 15, a total of 2,035 visitors from China visited Seychelles in 2024, an increase of 87 percent compared to the same time last year. Chengdu, the vibrant capital of Sichuan province in China, is a major economic and transportation hub, making it an ideal departure point for Chinese visitors eager to explore Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. Francis explained that the new chartered flights will benefit the country since «we did well in the number of visitors from China when we had direct flights between the two countries. In the years when we did not have direct flights we found it hard to bring in visitors from China, even though we had many promotions going on,» she added. The principal secretary explained that this was due to travellers having to go through different hubs before landing in Seychelles. In addition to boosting tourism, the new connection is also expected to open new avenues for exchanges, business and investments between the two countries and encourage more Seychellois to visit China. Francis revealed that many agents are working with her department to offer packages to those wishing to visit Chengdu. 

German airline, Condor, and Swiss leisure and charter airline, Edelweiss Air, resumed their operations to Seychelles on September 21 and 22 respectively. In a press communique on Saturday, Tourism Seychelles, the marketing branch of the Department of Tourism, announced the return of the airlines and two others, connecting the island nation to key European markets. Russian airline, Aeroflot, will make its return as of October 2 with two flights per week while Turkish Airlines is set to make its much-anticipated return to Seychelles on October 28 with four rotations per week. «The return of these carriers signals a significant boost for the tourism industry, offering tourists a wider range of convenient flight options to reach the islands,» said Tourism Seychelles. Tourism Seychelles said these resumed flights will provide a crucial link between Seychelles and vital European hubs, making the islands more accessible to travellers from around the world. Earlier this year, the organisation announced the first direct, non-stop charter flight between Seychelles and Chengdu, China, operated by Sichuan Airlines. This new route is set to begin operations in the last quarter of 2024, further extending Seychelles' global footprint and tapping into the vast Chinese travel market. Bernadette Willemin, director general for Destination Marketing at Tourism Seychelles, said Tourism Seychelles is actively negotiating with additional airline partners as part of its long-term strategy to enhance the accessibility of the islands. «We are thrilled to welcome back these key airline partners. As a small island nation dependent on tourism, this development is expected to invigorate the nation's tourism industry by increasing the influx of visitors. The increased connectivity will enable more travellers from across the globe to discover the unique experiences our islands have to offer. We look forward to seeing a positive impact on our tourism sector as these flights resume,» she said. With a continued focus on improving accessibility, Tourism Seychelles said it remains dedicated to fostering collaborations with both current and potential airline partners. These efforts not only serve to increase flight options but also ensure that Seychelles is well-positioned to attract a diverse array of international visitors. As Seychelles gears up for an influx of travellers, the return of these international airlines and the introduction of new routes demonstrate the islands' resilience and commitment to remaining a top global travel destination, said the statement. Tourism is the top contributor to the economy of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.

World leaders, including Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan, adopted a Pact for the Future to transform global governance on Sunday at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. In his statement at the UN Summit of the Future Plenary Session, Ramkalawan said, «The Pact for the Future must not just mirror the aspirations of all nations – it must embody the hopes and dreams of the most vulnerable among us.» Ramkalawan stated, «We cannot afford to make commitments to strengthen global cooperation on climate action, sustainable development, and equitable access to resources only to see them diluted in implementation. The harsh truth is that, despite our ambitions, there is a real risk that these commitments will fall short, continuing to marginalise those who are already most at risk, shutting them out of the very decision-making processes that shape their futures.» The head of state of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, said to ensure that the Pact for the Future truly represents all sectors of society, young people must be actively engaged in the development process, as their involvement is crucial to building a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable world today. Ramkalawan said addressing the digital divide is just as crucial and that this inequality threatens to widen the gap between the haves and have-nots, making targeted action essential. «Strong partnerships are vital to ensuring equitable access to the technologies and infrastructure that underpin modern development. These efforts must be supported by resilient multilateral institutions, international cooperation, global solidarity, and shared responsibility, as no nation can tackle these immense challenges alone,» he added. «To truly embody the principles of cooperation and shared responsibility, we must recognise and preserve the strategic significance of regions like the Indian Ocean, where fostering peace and collaboration is vital for both regional stability and the broader success of our global community,» said Ramkalawan. He said to ensure that the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for small island developing states (SIDS) truly succeeds «we must move beyond rhetoric and into action. We urge multilateral institutions to recognise the critical importance of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index and to implement it as a key tool in their policies, ensuring that the unique vulnerabilities of the most at-risk nations are given the priority they deserve in global financing strategies.» «Our collective future depends on the strength of our multilateral institutions and the solidarity of our global community. The challenges we face are daunting, complex, and deeply interconnected. No single country can hope to overcome them alone. We must restore trust in multilateralism and ensure that our global governance structures are not only responsive and inclusive but also effective and just,» he added. Ramkalwan said amid the challenges, there is hope and that the decisions made today will determine the world of tomorrow. «For my small nation, the stakes could not be higher. We are ready – eager – to contribute to a future that is sustainable, equitable, and just. But we cannot do this alone. It is only through cooperation, mutual respect, and shared responsibility that we can hope to tackle the enormous challenges that confront us all. We need your partnership, your solidarity, and your unwavering commitment to ensuring that no one—no nation—is left behind,» he concluded. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday arrived in the United States for a crucial visit to present Kyiv's plan to end two and a half years of war with Russia. Zelensky will present his proposals -- which he calls a «victory plan» -- to President Joe Biden, as well as presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The visit comes after a summer of intense fighting: with Moscow advancing fast in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv holding on to swathes of Russia's Kursk region. It also comes as Kyiv has for weeks pressed the West to allow it to use long-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia -- so far to no avail. When they meet at the White House on Thursday, Zelensky is expected to try to convince Biden to change his mind. On the first leg of his US visit, Ukraine's president visited a factory in Pennsylvania on Sunday that produces badly needed 155mm artillery shells. «I began my visit to the United States by expressing my gratitude to all the employees at the plant,» Zelensky said Sunday in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The post included photos of him shaking hands with workers at the plant, where he said production had been ramped up. «It is in places like this where you can truly feel that the democratic world can prevail,» he wrote. He will next travel to New York and Washington. Zelensky said the coming weeks would decide how more than 30 months of fighting that has killed thousands would end. «It is now being determined what the legacy of the current generation of states leaders will be. Those in the highest offices,» he said. In comments before his trip, Zelensky said the United States and UK have not given Ukraine permission to use the long-range weapons as they fear escalation, but hinted he had not given up hope. «We have had some decisions in the history of our relationship with Biden -- very interesting and difficult dialogues,» Zelensky said earlier this week, adding: «He later changed his point of view.» Moscow has said it considers such a go-ahead as NATO countries being «at war» with Russia. - 'Fair and stable peace' - A close adviser to Biden said this month that the US leader would use his remaining time in office to «put Ukraine in the best possible position to prevail.» No details on Ukraine's plan have been made public. Zelensky said Biden would be the first foreign leader to see the plan «in full» -- saying it will then also be presented to «all leaders of our partner countries.» Zelensky plans to present the proposals to the US Congress, Harris and Trump. The White House has said he will meet with Democratic Vice President Harris separately from Biden, and Zelensky has said he expects to meet with Republican Trump on Thursday or Friday. Harris has indicated she would continue Biden's policies on Ukraine, while Trump has been hugely critical of Washington's massive aid packages for Kyiv. Zelensky said earlier this week that the plan envisages that «war will not return to us again in an even bigger wave» in years to come. He has said Kyiv plans to hold meetings throughout autumn and that the «entire plan» will be ready by «early November.» The proposals, he told the media Friday, envisage «quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners.» - 'Clear place for Ukraine' - One of those steps, he said, is «related to strengthening Ukraine's weapons capabilities» while another demands a «clear place for Ukraine in the world's security architecture». Zelensky has also said he plans to invite Russia to a possible second international peace summit in November. But Moscow this weekend said it would not attend and referred to President Vladimir Putin's conditions to enter talks: that Ukraine surrender four of its regions. «I think both are still betting on the possibility of a military victory,» UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told CNN Sunday. Russian attacks on Ukraine killed six people -- including two children -- this weekend, while a strike on the city of Kharkiv wounded 21 people in a residential neighbourhood. Ukraine said it struck two arms depots in Russia, with Kyiv's army saying it hit a key ammunition storage base important to the Russian army's logistics for its invasion. © Agence France-Pressee

The UN's refugee chief questioned Sunday what future awaited the Sudanese people as the country's civil war rages, pushing its people ever further afield including to Uganda and Europe's maritime borders. Since the start of the war in April 2023, «well over 10 million people have been chased away from their homes,» two million of whom fled Sudan, Filippo Grandi told AFP in an interview, ahead of the annual UN General Assembly high-level week. «What's the future for a country like Sudan, devastated by war?» Grandi asked. Grandi's role leading the UNHCR and its 20,000 staff is one of the most important in the United Nations due to the ever-growing number of refugees in the world, and the agency has won the Nobel Peace Prize twice. Grandi said it was «worrying» that «people are starting to move away from the immediate neighborhood,» describing a sharp increase of Sudanese -- around 40,000 -- arriving in non-bordering Uganda. «We have seen at least 100,000 Sudanese arrive in Libya,» Grandi said. «We know that, given the active presence of trafficking networks and also the proximity with Europe, many of them may now try, or are already trying, to take boats on to Italy and other European countries,» Grandi said. - Crisis 'unobserved' by international community - «We have been warning the Europeans,» he added, insisting that humanitarian aid for Sudan was inadequate, and that Sudanese people would continue to leave and would reach more countries. «This crisis is really beginning to impact the whole region in very, very risky ways.» Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic are home to tens of thousands of refugees, while Egypt, where many Sudanese migrants were already living, is home to millions. Sudan's civil war has pitted the army led by general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the paramilitary RSF forces of general Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, claiming tens of thousands of lives and plunging 26 million into severe food insecurity. Famine has been declared in Zamzam camp in Darfur near to the city of El-Fasher, where the RSF this weekend launched a large-scale offensive after months of siege. «We have very patchy information about the situation inside,» Grandi said. «(But) we know that there are certain patterns» -- namely that militias, sometimes linked with one of the warring parties or the RSF itself «targets or puts pressure on civilians.» The RSF, with the support of Arab militias, have killed between 10,000 and 15,000 people in the West-Darfur town of El-Geneina alone, UN experts said. «This most grave crisis -- a crisis of human rights, a crisis of humanitarian needs -- passes largely unobserved in our international community,» Grandi said. «Every new crisis chases the other crisis away» -- from Ukraine to Gaza. But even before the deadly war in Gaza, the war in Sudan had been «marginalized» despite its massive impact, he said, condemning the «deficit of interest for crises in Africa,» like those in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Sahel, as «frightening and shocking.» Grandi questioned the outlook for Sudan even if peace was achieved, warning that the Sudanese middle class which had «held the country together had been completely destroyed. »They know that it's over. They've lost their jobs, their homes have been destroyed,« he said. »Many times relatives have been killed. It's atrocious." © Agence France-Presse

Sri Lanka's Marxist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayaka took an early lead in Saturday's presidential election during the counting of postal ballots, official results showed. Dissanayaka had 60.21 percent of the 164,000 votes counted, out of just over 700,000. Public servants involved in conducting the election are entitled to post their ballots, which are the first to be counted. About 76 percent of the 17.1 million person electorate turned out for Saturday's vote, and final results are expected later Sunday. The election has turned into a referendum on incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe's austerity measures, implemented in line with a $2.9 billion bailout loan he secured from the IMF early last year. The 55-year-old Dissanayaka had vowed to renegotiate the unpopular IMF agreement under which Wickremesinghe had doubled income taxes, removed energy subsidies and raised prices. The initial results showed opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had 19.98, almost neck-and-neck with Wickremesinghe who had 18.59 percent. If elected, Dissanayaka would be Sri Lanka's first Marxist head of state The authorities declared an eight-hour evening curfew across the country while results were being announced via manual counts, as Sri Lanka does not have electronic voting. Wickremesinghe is seeking a fresh term to press ahead with his austerity measures after claiming credit for stabilising the economy after a crushing default on the national debt in 2022. © Agence France-Presse

Seychellois academic and director of the Creole Language and Culture Research Institute (CLCRI) at the University of Seychelles (UniSey), Dr. Penda Choppy, has identified that the traditional folktales in the Seychelles repertoire could be used to trace the diasporic origins of the island nation's people. Taking three years in total to complete, Choppy's PhD thesis entitled «Creativity, Creolisation and Identity in Seychellois Creole Folktales,» delved into the intriguing world of Seychellois folklore, uncovering its rich history and its potential to reveal crucial insights into Seychellois culture and identity. Her research examines how Seychellois folktales represent the diverse diasporas that shaped the island nation's population and part of her research delves into what she has described as the Arabian Nights, where she looks at the origins of several old folktales. Choppy stated that an example showing the diasporic origins of the Seychellois people is «The Arabian Nights or The One Thousand and One Nights,» which appears in the Seychelles folktale repertoire and is part of this inheritance. «Because Seychelles is now a literate society, most people assumed that The Arabian Nights was introduced to the general population via fairytale books or Hollywood renditions of stories from the series, for example 'Sinbad the Sailor', and more recently, 'Aladdin by' Disney. However, during my study of Seychelles folktales as showcases of the creolisation process and identity markers, I put together the beginnings of a folktale database. I discovered that certain stories from our repertoire are linked to The Arabian Nights. What was more surprising was that not all of these stories necessarily came from European written sources, but could have come through oral transmission from regional sources,» she shared. Choppy mentioned Eleonore Finesse, a Seychellois who shared several accounts of folktales she knew for documentation, for example for the story of Aladdin. «It is interesting that Marvelle Estrale, the researcher who collected the story in 2002 revealed the fact that the informant, Eleonore Finesse, who at that time had been 80 years old, had said that the story had been transmitted to her by her grandparents. During some fieldwork in June 2020, another informant, Rene Bastienne, said that he remembered being told the Aladdin story by his grandfather when he was a child. At the time of the interview, Bastienne was 73 years old,» said Choppy. Choppy remarked that The Arabian Nights is not the largest section of the thesis, comprising only about five stories and one motif (the forty thieves), but it was one of the most interesting and surprising findings.   «A search for the possible origins from which the stories came to Seychelles was made using Google, through a comparison of texts from the different online databases such as the Multilingual Folktale Database. It was possible to establish which text had the closest resemblance to the Seychelles one. This was then analysed in the historical context of folklore transference in the Indian Ocean region,» she added. Choppy surmised that these folktales contained clues relating to their origin in the way they were structured and the kind of terms and names used. «For example, there are two sets of tales originating from India in the Seychelles repertoire: those that were transferred via Europe, and those that were transferred either directly from India or from Eastern Africa. Close text comparison made it possible to determine the specificities of each,» she stated.  Dr Choppy concluded that many popular fairy tales associated with the European tradition originated from Asia namely India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, China, Egypt and Persia. «It seems that stories and other types of folklore from India and Southeast Asia might have been transferred to the Middle Eastern region by Arab seafarers who later translated them into Arabic. As a Creolised culture, this is part of our inheritance from various periods of cultural transference in our region,» she said. 

Israel pounded southern Lebanon Saturday, raising fears of all-out war a day after an Israeli strike on Beirut left senior Hezbollah commanders among the 37 people Lebanese officials said were killed. With heavy equipment still working at the site of the southern Beirut strike beneath high-rise buildings, Lebanon's health ministry reported six additional dead, up from 31 earlier Saturday. AFPTV footage showed mourners gathering in the Lebanese capital on Saturday for the funerals of three slain Hezbollah members. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati decried «horrific massacres» and said he had cancelled his trip to the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, «in light of the developments linked to the Israeli aggression». Germany's foreign ministry said there was «an urgent need» to defuse tensions, as the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip threatens to engulf Lebanon too. The UN has also voiced concern about «heightened escalation» and called for «maximum restraint» from all sides. Israeli aircraft «struck thousands» of rocket launchers ready to fire from southern Lebanon, as well as «approximately 180» other, unspecified targets, a military statement said. AFP correspondents reported intense Israeli strikes over a wide area of southern Lebanon including parts of the Nabatiyeh district and Jezzine further north. - Basement bombed - Iran-backed Hezbollah said it targeted at least seven military positions in northern Israel and the annexed Golan Heights with rockets. Israel's military said the militants had fired «about 90» rockets by late afternoon Saturday. Lebanon's Health Minister Firass Abiad said three children and seven women were killed in Friday's strike on an underground meeting room, which AFP journalists said left a huge crater in a densely populated neighbourhood of the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. Israel said the strike killed the head of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, Ibrahim Aqil, and several other commanders. Israel's military said it conducted a «targeted strike» against Aqil, which a source close to Hezbollah said killed 16 Radwan Force members. «The command of the Radwan Force was meeting in the basement of the building,» the source said. The Radwan Force has spearheaded Hezbollah's ground operations, and Israel has repeatedly demanded through international mediators that its fighters be pushed back from the border. Confirming the death of Aqil, Hezbollah hailed him as «one of its great leaders». Washington had offered a $7 million reward for information on Aqil, calling him a «principal member» of an organisation that claimed the 1983 Beirut US embassy bombing which killed 63. - Exploding pagers - Hezbollah said a second senior commander, Ahmed Mahmud Wahbi, was also killed on Friday. It said he headed the group's operations against Israel from the onset of the Gaza war in October until the start of this year. It was the second Israeli strike on Hezbollah's military leadership since the Gaza war began. In July, an Israeli strike on Beirut killed Fuad Shukr, a top operations chief. Friday's strike also followed sabotage attacks on pagers and two-way radios used by Hezbollah on Tuesday and Wednesday, which killed 39 people. Hezbollah blamed Israel, which has not commented. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed that Israel would face retribution for those blasts. For nearly a year, Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have traded cross-border fire with Israeli forces in stated support of Palestinian ally Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. After Friday's strike, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel's «enemies» would find no refuge. Iran accused Israel of seeking to «broaden the geography of the war», and Hamas called the Beirut strike an «escalation». Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel was «not aiming for a broad escalation in the region». The months of near-daily exchanges have killed hundreds in Lebanon, mostly fighters, and dozens in Israel and the annexed Golan Heights, forcing tens of thousands on both sides to flee their homes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed by a day his departure for the United States, where he is due to address the UN General Assembly. On Friday the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, told the Security Council the attack on Hezbollah communications devices violated international law and could constitute a war crime. International mediators, including the United States, have been scrambling to stop the Gaza war from becoming a regional conflict. Critics of Netanyahu in Israel, demanding a deal to free hostages held by Hamas, have accused the prime minister of dragging out the war. - Gaza school strike - In Gaza on Saturday, the civil defence agency said an Israeli strike on Al-Zeitun School C, which had been turned into a displaced shelter, killed 21 people including 13 children and six women, one of them pregnant. Israel's military said the strike targeted Hamas militants who were «embedded inside» an adjacent school, and that it had taken steps «to mitigate the risk of harming civilians». An AFP reporter confirmed Al-Zeitun School C was hit. In late August the United Nations said Israel had struck at least 23 school shelters since July 4. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of operating from such facilities in highly urbanised Gaza, a charge the militants deny. In a separate incident, Gaza's health ministry said an Israeli air strike hit a southern Gaza warehouse killing four people, mostly health ministry personnel. The October 7 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, on the Israeli side, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity. Of 251 hostages seized by militants, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,391 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has acknowledged the figures as reliable. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles' reigning bodybuilder of the year, Wallace Dorasamy, has won the National Physique Committee /International Fitness and Body Building Federation (IFBB) Worldwide European Championship gold medal, in the middleweight category. Dorasamy qualified for the competition held in London after he won the British Championship last year, and he continued to make his mark in bodybuilding by being crowned the European champion. The former footballer competed in the open body-building class and was ranked first in the middle-weight category to win gold. In the classic Physique class A, he was ranked 6th. «I have been preparing for this competition since late last year, where we made a lot of changes to my normal preparation, with the NSC (National Sports Council) assisting with a sports psychologist, which really helped,» said Dorasamy. He explained that last year, he had some issues with his mental health from having to deal with the pressures of competing at a high level. Dorasamy has thanked the National Sports Council (NSC) for all their support throughout the year, especially the chief executive, Marc Arrisol, and the High-Level Athletes programme. «This win is not only for me, it is also for everyone who has supported me, for Seychelles, for my girlfriend Tara, without whom I would not have made it, my father, sister, Mark, Ruddy, Dr Sham-laye and Douglas Pierre at the NSC. Without all of them, I would not be feeling the way I am now about this result,» added Dorasamy. This is the first competition for Dorasamy this season and he is set to compete in two more European competitions, as well as the upcoming African Cup. Speaking to SNA, Dorasamy said he was emotional because he understands just how much work and effort has gone into this achievement. This achievement continued from where he lifted off in 2023, when he won a gold medal in the open bodybuilding middleweight class at the Ryan Terry British Championships in Manchester the UK held from October 14 to 15. Dorasamy also won silver in the men's classic physique, and, in both categories, he was among eight competitors vying for the gold medal. Just a few months later, the 34-year-old also won gold at the National Physique Committee Worldwide African Pro Qualifier held in Cape Town. Dorasamy, who is coached by his girlfriend Tara de la Fontaine, locally, and Jamie Dorigo, internationally, competed in the Bodybuilding and Men's Classic Physique categories in the event at the Corpus Christi Panorama in Cape Town, South Africa on December 1.  

As of May 1, 2025, Seychelles will gradually phase out the usage of cheques in financial transactions as the country looks to move towards a more digitalised financial system. This decision was taken after the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) saw a decline in the number of financial transactions through cheques while those through digital channels were on the rise. This will be done through a phased approach where commercial banks and Seychelles Credit Union (SCU) will stop issuing cheque books for individuals as of January 1, 2025. The deadline for banks to stop accepting cheques from individuals is May 1, 2025. Additionally, commercial banks and Seychelles Credit Union (SCU) will stop issuing cheque books for non-individuals as of January 1, 2026, and will stop accepting cheques from non individuals from May 1, 2026. The director for financial inclusion and market conduct at CBS, Liz Julienne, told reporters that in 2023, approximately 600,000 cheques were used in transactions. In comparison, those through card and Seychelles Electronic Funds Transfer (SEFT), were over 10 million. Julienne explained that during their observations, they had noticed several issues associated with the use of cheques. «One of these issues is that some people use cheques as a credit facility. By that I mean that someone can pay for a commodity using a cheque, knowing they do not have that money in their account, but the cheque is used as a delaying tactic, to allow the person to find that money and deposit it in the account, before the cheque itself is deposited by the seller,» she explained. Julienne said this has caused a lot of problems as many times the cheque bounces and this has caused many retailers to stop accepting cheques as payment for the goods. Before taking this decision, CBS says that they had numerous conversations and consultations with the private and public sector, and other businesses, and from that, a number of concerns were identified. The concerns included the risk of financial exclusion for certain segments of the population who are reliant upon this type of transaction, insufficiently reliable digital options, fees and charges associated with using digital financial solutions. It also includes the cost of the internet and mobile devices to access these solutions, as well as the possibility that it increases the usage of cash, which is contrary to what CBS wants to achieve. The CBS said it continually works with various partners to ensure that all these concerns are addressed so that these transitions can be as smooth as possible. According to statistics presented by the CBS, most local banks have alternative payment solutions to cope with this phasing out process. All eight banks operating in the country have Internet banking platforms for individuals and businesses, although not all of them at the moment have debit cards, mobile apps or point of sale (POS) machines. «The reason we have decided to talk about this now even if the changes will take effect next year, is because we want the individuals and businesses to enter into a conversation with their banks now so that they can find out what other solutions are available to them,» added Julienne. She emphasised that even if someone receives a cheque before May 1, 2025, and goes to the bank to deposit or cash after that date, it will not be accepted.

Comoros President Azali Assoumani on Thursday chaired a cabinet meeting in his first public appearance since being wounded in a knife attack last week, government footage showed. Assoumani is seen in the video with a thick bandage on the left side of his forehead, smiling as he got into a car and arriving at the presidential compound. He greeted advisors and ministers before sitting at the end of the cabinet table where he looked through files. AFP correspondents saw the president's motorcade enter the presidential compound, but reporters were not allowed in. The 65-year-old president had not been seen since September 13 when he was wounded by a soldier during the funeral of a religious leader in Salimani-Itsandra on the outskirts of the capital Moroni. The government said his wounds were «not serious» and that he was fine. But his unusual absence from the Mawlid religious celebrations in Moroni, an important event in the small Indian Ocean archipelago of around 870,000 people who mostly practise Islam, raised questions. One of Assoumani's advisors and a diplomat told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the Comoros leader had cancelled his attendance at the UN General Assembly, due to begin in New York on September 22 -- an event he rarely misses. The president «has regained his full form, as proof he chaired the council of ministers», government spokesperson Fatima Ahamada told reporters outside the presidential palace on Thursday after the meeting. It was «on the recommendation of his doctor» that he had not taken part in the Mawlid festivities, she added. «I can assure you that he is doing very well physically and mentally. It's the bandage on his head that's bothering him... aesthetically,» Msaidie Houmed, Assoumani's political adviser, had told AFP on Wednesday when asked about the reasons for his absence. «It's the same Azali we had before» the attack, he said. The government previously declined to detail the president's injuries, saying only that he had needed «stitches to his scalp». A witness to the attack, who declined to give his name, told AFP: «The assailant was like a madman, he threw himself at the head of state», who was on a terrace in the home of the deceased religious leader. «He first attacked him with a knife before beating him up,» he said. «Without the person who intervened, I strongly believe that the head of state would not have escaped.» - No autopsy - On the day after the attack Public Prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid announced that the 24-year-old soldier, who had been immediately arrested, was found dead in prison that morning in unclear circumstances. Investigations have been opened into the president's attack and the man's cause of death, the prosecutor said. He said the body had been immediately handed over to the family, suggesting that no autopsy was requested by the public prosecutor's office. The government spokesperson refused to comment on the circumstances around the assailant's death. But «his death undermines the investigation» into the attack against the president, which must «determine whether (this) is not the result of a conspiracy», Ahamada said. Assoumani, a former military ruler who came to power in a coup in 1999, was re-elected president in January after a disputed vote that was followed by two days of deadly protests. He has been accused of growing authoritarianism. In August, he granted new powers to his son, in a move that critics said was a step towards consolidating the family's rule over the small African island nation. Nour El Fath Azali, who is Assoumani's eldest son, was appointed secretary general of Comoros in July. The new powers mean he must approve all decrees issued by ministers and governors. Critics say that it elevates his role to that of de facto prime minister. © Agence France-Presse

World leaders will descend on the United Nation's New York HQ from Sunday for the organization's annual signature gathering against an explosive backdrop of raging wars, growing populism and diplomatic deadlock. The war in Gaza, soaring Middle East tensions, famine conditions in Sudan's civil war and the grinding conflict in Ukraine are among the rancorous issues on the agenda of the presidents and prime ministers attending the General Assembly's high-level week -- the UN's showpiece event. But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insisted this week that the world would be able to «avoid moving to World War Three.» «What we are witnessing is a multiplication of conflicts and the sense of impunity,» Guterres said at a briefing. The gathering «could not come in a more critical and more challenging moment,» said Washington's UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield. «The list of crises and conflicts that demand attention and action only seem to grow and grow... it's easy to fall into cynicism. »But we can't afford to do that.« It is unclear what if anything the grand gathering, the World Cup of diplomacy, can achieve for the millions mired in conflict and poverty globally. With Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian, due to attend, »Gaza will obviously be the most prominent of these conflicts in terms of what leaders are saying,« said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group. He suggested the set piece diplomatic speeches and posturing would »not actually make a great deal of difference to events on the ground.« The war in Gaza began after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which ultimately resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. More than 41,272 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza since the war began, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The UN has acknowledged these figures as reliable. Fears are high that the conflict could boil over into Lebanon, where a series of deadly explosions apparently targeted Hezbollah's communications this week. Israel has yet to comment. The action in New York begins Sunday with a »Summit of the Future,« Guterres' flagship attempt to get ahead of challenges that will face the world in coming years. - Tackle war 'right now' - World leaders, expected to include India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will attend to adopt a pact on how to confront the most pressing issues going forward. Despite intense negotiations and Guterres calling on leaders to show »courage,« the draft text has been panned by observers as badly lacking in ambition. »One of the risks, and it's more than a risk, (is) that the Summit of the Future may look like the summit of the past, and in the best-case scenario, the summit of the present,« said another diplomat.» Guterres insists the summit has value, saying that «international challenges are moving faster than our ability to solve them.» «We see out of control, geopolitical divisions and runaway conflicts, not least in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and beyond, runaway climate change, runaway inequalities... and our institutions simply can't keep up,» he said. The ICRC's UN representative Laetitia Courtois said it was vital that conflict was tackled «right now,» not as «an objective for the next generation.» The summit will be followed by the high-level week at which the UN's 193 members will address each other, kicking off with Brazil. That will be followed by the United States, with President Joe Biden due to speak -- likely on ceasefire talks in Gaza, among other issues. The leaders of China and Russia will be absent as in past years, but Britain's Keir Starmer, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be present. Zelensky was the star attraction in 2023, but one diplomat said he would struggle to stay in the spotlight this year as he presents his «plan for victory.» Ahead of the gala events, a security ring of steel was being erected around the UN's riverfront HQ and local people and businesses braced for traffic paralysis caused by the endless VIP motorcades and street closures. © Agence France-Presse  

China and Seychelles have forged profound friendship since the diplomatic ties were established 48 years ago and the two countries have always trusted each other and firmly supported each other's core interests and major concerns. The statement was made on Thursday by the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan, at a National Day reception for the 75th Anniversary of the founding of China at the Eden Bleu Hotel. The ambassador said, «We appreciate the one-China policy adhered to by the Seychelles' government and people, and we are happy to see that projects aided by China such as the National Assembly building, Palace of Justice, hospital, social housing, have contributed a lot to Seychelles economic and social development. The new SBC House will be in operation soon, and new social housing project has been planned.» She spoke about the meeting of President Xi Jinping with President Wavel Ramkalawan during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing recently. «They jointly announced the elevation of the China-Seychelles relationship to a strategic partnership. This is an important milestone of our bilateral relations, spearheading a new era of bilateral cooperation and friendship,» said Nan. She said that the two countries will continue to support each other on the international stage and that China will tap the potential of economic and trade interactions, and are ready to import more quality Seychelles products. «We will further enhance cooperation in fishery, Blue Economy, health, culture, education, people-to-people exchanges and maritime security,» added the ambassador. She emphasised that the «Deepened friendship between our two countries and peoples calls for more active participation of all stakeholders. The Embassy is ready to work with Seychellois friends from all walks of life to implement concrete projects. We encourage and support the Association for the Promotion of Friendship between Seychelles and China, the Chinese community and contractors, business people, Confucious Institute, and China Medical Team to play their important role in this common undertaking.» Nan added that she has full confidence that with concerted efforts the two countries  will build a «new era» of China-Seychelles relations and a community with a shared future. On his part, the Designated Minister, Jean-François Ferrari, stated that China «has been reliable in our pursuit of development and prosperity, this year in particular, has seen significant progress in our relations.» He explained that in the health sector alone, this year the Chinese Navy hospital ship, Peace Ark returned to Seychelles after 14 years while Chinese medical experts have been posted in the country demonstrating China's ongoing support for the well-being of the Seychellois people.« In education, six Seychellois students have gone for further studies in Chinese universities, adding to the 31 Seychellois already studying in the Asian country. Ferrari said China has also been a partner to Seychelles in maritime security by »offering essential training to members of the Seychelles Defence Forces and preparing to donate a new patrol vessel to strengthen our efforts in protecting our waters.« He concluded by saying, »The strength of a partnership is not defined by size or distance, but by shared goals and the government of Seychelles is deeply committed to further enhancing our long-standing relationship with China."

Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan and Cuba's Minister of Public Health, José Angel Portal Miranda, discussed longstanding cooperation between the two nations and explored avenues for new cooperation in a bilateral meeting, State House said on Thursday. Ramkalawan expressed Seychelles' gratitude for the Cuban medical brigade, a cornerstone of healthcare support in Seychelles. There are 25 Cuban specialists and 13 general practitioners working with the Seychelles' Ministry of Health, significantly enhancing the country's medical services. The cooperation extends to medical training, with Cuban scholarships enabling Seychellois students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in medicine, further building the nation's healthcare capacity. Ramkalawan also toured several key health institutions and engaged in discussions to strengthen the Seychelles' healthcare sector. He visited the La Pradera International Health Centre and the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and explored advancements in medical treatment and biotechnology that could benefit Seychelles. Furthermore, the Seychelles' delegation met with a group of Seychellois students currently pursuing medical studies in Cuba. It was an opportunity for the students to discuss their progress and ongoing challenges with the President. The students, representing various medical specialties, shared their academic progress and evolving cultural experiences while studying in Cuba.  The Seychelles' delegation met with a group of Seychellois students studying in Cuba. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY During the meeting, Ramkalawan expressed pride in seeing the students remaining committed to their studies and the wish to see them return to Seychelles to contribute to the local health system and support their communities. Among the students were Farrah Faure, specialising in endocrinology, Sebastien Moutou, specialising in ophthalmology, Grace Lafleur, doing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Liana Jean Lopez and Samuel Marie, studying for a degree in medicine. According to State House, the meeting shows the government's proactive approach to engaging with its citizens abroad and a commitment to encouraging all overseas students.   From Cuba, Ramkalawan will travel to New York to participate in the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September 23 to 27.