Areas of the Pacific territory of New Caledonia have «escaped» state control, the French government's representative said Friday, announcing fresh security deployments after days of deadly violence. «Reinforcements will be arriving ... to control the areas that have escaped us in recent days, where control is no longer assured,» the High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia Louis Le Franc told reporters at a briefing. A state of emergency was imposed on the French archipelago after opposition to Paris's plan to change voting rules there spiralled into arson, looting and violence that has left five dead and hundreds wounded. As part of the state of emergency, about 200 of an estimated 5,000 «rioters» have been detained, French authorities have said. One person suspected of homicide surrendered to the authorities, Le Franc said at the Friday briefing. Earlier, he said the situation around the capital Noumea was starting to look calmer after the simmering protests turned violent on Monday. The unrest began as French lawmakers pushed forward plans to allow those who moved to the territory at least 10 years ago to vote in local elections. Located between Australia and Fiji, New Caledonia is one of several territories around the globe that remain part of France. © Agence France-Presse

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was able to speak but remained in serious condition on Thursday, officials said as police charged a suspect for the attack they called politically motivated. President-elect Peter Pellegrini briefed journalists a day after the shooting, which has prompted fears of further violence in the politically polarised nation just weeks before European parliament elections. «He is able to speak but only a few sentences and then he is really, really tired... The situation is very critical,» Pellegrini said outside the hospital in the central city of Banska Bystrica. «The doctors asked me to make a really very short visit,» he added. «I told him that we stand behind him.» But he said that «very difficult hours and days» lay ahead for Fico. On Wednesday, train conductor Richard Krajcik was hoping to get a selfie with Fico after a government meeting in the central town of Handlova when shots rang out. «Everything happened so fast,» Krajcik told AFP, gazing at the spot in the main square where Fico was struck. Former police chief Stefan Hamran slammed the prime minister's bodyguards, telling AFP «they reacted late, they reacted badly». «Instead of throwing themselves at the assailant... they moved in the opposite direction and tried to dodge the shots,» he said. Wednesday's attack has stoked fears in the deeply polarised nation, as officials drew a link between the political situation and the suspect's motives. Police charged the suspect, identified as 71-year-old writer Juraj Cintula in local media, with attempted murder Thursday. «This is a lone wolf whose actions were accelerated after the presidential election since he was dissatisfied with its outcome,» Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said. The suspect's longtime neighbour, Ludovit Mile, said Cintula was «friendly, helpful». «He must have gone crazy,» he told AFP. - 'Circle of hatred' - Pellegrini, who won last month's presidential vote and is a political ally of Fico, called for calm and urged political parties to halt campaigning for the EU parliament election when far-right parties are expected to gain votes. The biggest opposition party, centrist Progressive Slovakia, and others announced that they had already stopped their election lobbying. Slovakia's political scene has been divided for years between pro-European and nationalist-leaning camps. Disinformation and attacks on social media featured heavily during the latest election campaign. Pellegrini, who takes office in June, said in a joint statement with outgoing President Zuzana Caputova that Slovakia should avoid «further confrontation». The two politicians represent rival political camps but Caputova said they wanted «to send a signal of understanding» as she urged an end to «the vicious circle of hatred». Surgeons spent hours operating on Fico to save the life of the 59-year-old. Footage just after the shooting showed security agents grabbing a wounded Fico from the ground and bundling him into a car, while other officers handcuffed a man on the pavement. Fico, whose party won the general election last September, is a four-time prime minister accused of swaying his country's foreign policy in favour of Russia. - Unprecedented attack - Outside the hospital, shock mixed with outrage among residents of Banska Bystrica. «I'm certainly afraid that such attacks will be repeated,» said Nina Stevulova, a 18-year-old student. «There's no need to do such things. Feel free to throw a tomato or an egg at him or scold him that 'You are a thief or a murderer',» Karol Reichl, a former professional driver, told AFP. «But don't come with a gun and shoot,» the 69-year-old said. Political analyst Miroslav Radek said the attack risked causing «further radicalisation of individuals and politicians in Slovakia». «I am afraid that this attack may not have been the last,» Radek told AFP. - Ukraine weapons - Fico also headed the government in 2006-10 and 2012-18. He was forced to resign in 2018 after an investigative journalist's murder exposed high-level corruption. Since returning to office, Fico has made a string of remarks that have soured ties between Slovakia and neighbouring Ukraine after he questioned Ukraine's sovereignty. After he was elected, Slovakia stopped sending weapons to Ukraine, invaded by Russia in 2022. He also sparked protests with controversial changes, including a media law critics say will undermine the impartiality of public broadcasters. Analyst Milan Nic said the shooting was a «turning point» for Slovakia. «It's a moment that will shake society,» he told AFP. © Agence France-Presse

Leaders Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin framed their nations' ties as a stabilising force in a chaotic world as they met Thursday in Beijing, where the Russian president is seeking greater Chinese support for his war effort in Ukraine. It is Putin's first trip abroad since his March re-election and the second in just over six months to China, an economic lifeline for Russia after the West hit it with unprecedented sanctions over its military offensive in Ukraine. Putin was greeted by Xi at a grand welcoming ceremony outside Beijing's Great Hall of the People, footage by state broadcaster CCTV showed. In a meeting, Xi then told his «old friend» Putin that China-Russia relations were «conducive to peace». «China is ready to work with Russia to... uphold fairness and justice in the world,» Xi added. Putin, in turn, told Xi the two countries' relations were «stabilising factors in the international arena». «Relations between Russia and China are not opportunistic and not directed against anyone,» Putin said, according to a Kremlin readout. «Together, we uphold the principles of justice and a democratic world order that reflects multipolar realities and is based on international law,» he added. Following closed-door meetings, the two leaders then signed a joint statement on deepening their countries' «comprehensive strategic partnership», state news agency Xinhua said. - No 'further escalation' - The Russian leader's arrival came hours after he hailed his country's troops for advancing on «all fronts» on the battlefield in Ukraine, following a major new ground assault. And the Kremlin said Russia and China had agreed to oppose «further escalation» of the conflict in Ukraine on Thursday. «The parties note the need to stop any steps that contribute to the prolongation of hostilities,» the Kremlin's readout of their joint statement said. China has dismissed claims it is aiding Russia's war in Ukraine and insisted that the West is exacerbating the conflict by sending arms to Ukraine. Xi has also rebuffed Western criticism of his country's close ties with Moscow. But their economic partnership has come under close scrutiny from the West in recent months. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China's support for Russia's «brutal war of aggression» in Ukraine had helped Russia ramp up production of rockets, drones and tanks -- while stopping short of direct arms exports. China claims to be a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, which it has never condemned and in which it has sought to frame itself as a mediator. And in a statement to media following talks with Putin, Xi said the two sides agreed on the need for a «political solution» to resolving the war. «China's position on this issue has always been clear,» Xi said in footage broadcast by Russian TV. That position included «respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries» as well as «respecting the reasonable security concerns of all sides», the Chinese leader added. The remarks echo a paper issued by Beijing last year, which Western countries said could enable Russia to hold much of the territory it has seized in Ukraine. China also «looks forward to the early restoration of peace and stability on the European continent», Xi said, promising Beijing would «continue to play a constructive role to that end». Putin in response said he was «grateful» to Beijing for its efforts to help resolve the conflict. He also referenced Beijing's complaints about growing security cooperation between the United States and its allies in Asia, warning of «harmful» military alliances in the region. On Thursday afternoon, the Russian leader met Premier Li Qiang -- China's number two official -- who said Beijing was willing to «continue to deepen cooperation in various fields». Putin and Xi then attended a ceremony celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Beijing, Xinhua said. - Transactions slow - China-Russia trade has boomed since the Ukraine invasion and hit $240 billion in 2023, according to Chinese customs figures. But after Washington vowed to go after financial institutions that facilitate Moscow, Chinese exports to Russia dipped in March and April, down from a surge early in the year. An executive order by President Joe Biden in December permits secondary sanctions on foreign banks that deal with Russia's war machine, allowing the US Treasury to cut them out of the dollar-led global financial system. That, coupled with recent efforts to rebuild fractured ties with the United States, may make Beijing reluctant to openly push more cooperation with Russia -- despite what Moscow may want, analysts say. Putin's post-election trip to Beijing echoes Xi's own visit to Russia after his re-anointing as leader last year. The Russian leader is due to travel to the northeastern city of Harbin for a trade and investment expo on Friday. © Agence France-Presse

Ukraine warned on Thursday it faced a «very difficult» military situation in its northeast Kharkiv region, where Moscow has made its largest territorial gains in 18 months since launching a surprise offensive last week. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was sending yet more reinforcements to the area, the Ukrainian army said it had managed to partially halt Russia's advance. Kyiv also accused Russian troops of executing civilians in territory it had captured over the last week. The fresh Russian offensive has further stretched Ukraine's outgunned and outmanned forces. Moscow has seized 278 square kilometres (107 square miles) of Ukrainian territory between May 9 and 15, according to AFP calculations based on data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) -- the largest territorial gain in a single operation since mid-December 2022. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday met military leaders in Kharkiv city, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the Russian border to assess Ukraine's defensive efforts. «The situation in the Kharkiv region is generally under control, and our soldiers are inflicting significant losses on the occupier,» he said in a post on Telegram. «However, the area remains extremely difficult. We are reinforcing our units. Ukraine's army said earlier it had managed to halt the advancing Russian forces in some places. »Our defence forces have partially stabilised the situation. The advance of the enemy in certain zones and localities has been halted,« army spokesman Nazar Voloshin said on state TV on Thursday. In a daily briefing, Ukraine's General Staff said its forces had »significantly reduced the activity of the Russian occupiers.« »But the enemy is still trying to create the conditions for further advances,« Voloshin warned. - 'Killed by Russians' - Ukraine on Thursday also accused Russia of capturing and killing civilians in the border town of Vovchansk. »According to operational information, the Russian military, trying to gain a foothold in the city, did not allow local residents to evacuate: they began abducting people and driving them to basements,« Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said on Telegram. There were also »reports of the first shootings of civilians by the Russian military,« he said, adding that a war crimes investigation had been opened. »One of the residents of Vovchansk tried to escape on foot, refused to follow the commands of the invaders, and was killed by the Russians.« AFP could not verify the claims. There was no immediate response from Moscow to the allegations. Ukraine has been forced to evacuate around 8,800 people since Russia launched the new assault, Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synegubov said. Some were still arriving at a humanitarian centre in Kharkiv on Thursday. Among them was 85-year-old Nadezhda Borodina, who had her dog Vasik on a leash and her frightened cat Lucas packed in a plastic bag. Ukrainian »soldiers arrived and shouted 'Let's go, let's go!' and we were gone in five minutes,« she said. - 'All fronts' - Most of Russia's recent gains are in the Kharkiv area, though they have also claimed fresh territory in the eastern Donetsk and southern Zaporizhzhia regions. Following months of stalemate on the sprawling front lines, Russia has seized the initiative on the battlefield, pushing on from the capture of industrial hub Avdiivka in February. Russia's defence ministry said Thursday the army had »advanced deep into the enemy's defences« in the Kharkiv region. A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said his troops were advancing on »all fronts«. Some military analysts say Moscow may be trying to force Ukraine to divert troops from other hot spots, such as around the strategic hilltop town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. Russia's defence ministry said Wednesday its forces had captured the symbolic village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region, some 300 kilometres (185 miles) south of Moscow's new offensive. The settlement was one of the few successes for Kyiv of an underwhelming Ukrainian counter-offensive last summer. The intensification of Russian attacks on multiple fronts has underscored the acute ammunition and manpower shortages crippling the Ukrainian military. In China for a two-day state visit on Thursday, Putin said he was »grateful« to Beijing for »the initiatives they are putting forward to resolve" the war. There are no indications Moscow and Kyiv are prepared to engage in direct talks, which Ukraine says would only be used by Russia to buy time to prepare for a new assault. © Agence France-Presse

Georges Robert is the new Ombudsman of Seychelles and was sworn in on Thursday with his family present in a ceremony at State House.   This followed the recommendations from the Constitutional Appointees Authority (CAA). He succeeds Nichole Tirant-Ghérardi. «I am truly honoured and humbled to have been appointed the fifth Ombudsman of Seychelles,  and I am ready to work for the people of Seychelles to bring the office to the level that it was envisaged since its creation in 1993,» said Robert. The new ombudsman obtained admission as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland Australia in June 2011 and after he relocated to Seychelles, obtained Admission as an Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Seychelles in June 2014. His previous work experience includes solicitor at Carter Capner Law Firm in Australia from 2011 to 2012 and state counsel at the Attorney General's Chambers from 2012 to 2014. He was also an attorney-at-law in the Chambers of Francis Chang-Sam - 2014-2015, magistrate at the Judiciary of Seychelles from 2015-2017, and attorney- at-law, Office of George E Robert from January to December 2019. Before he was appointed Ombudsman, Robert served as the legal director at the Seychelles Human Rights Commission since December 2019 to date. He has 13 years of experience as an attorney-at-law. He succeeds Nicole Tirant-Gherardi, who served as Ombudsman for the past seven years and has now been appointed as the new vice-chairperson of the Seychelles Human Rights Commission. Tirant Gherardi is the new vice-chairperson of the Seychelles Human Rights Commission. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY.   Tirant Gherardi was sworn in as the new vice-chairperson of the Commission during the same ceremony along with three other members of the commission. The three new commissioners are Roger Toussaint, Barbare Corolus Andre and Elna Etienne Kumar. The commissioners of the Information Commission were also presented with their instruments, and Mumtaz Hasan was re-appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner with Peter Lalande and Egbert Rosalie appointed as new commissioners on the Commissioners. In his address, the President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, asked all those who have taken up these new roles, to perform with the utmost respect. He asked them to ensure that all their decisions remain unbiased and to not allow politics to affect their judgements. He also spoke on the lack of understanding of the roles of the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission, and the Information Commission and urged them to undertake an education campaign, so that people can better appreciate why they are very important for the country.

The statutory instrument (SI) 40 of 2024 for the customs management regulations for the importation of goods in Seychelles through post or courier valued lower than SCR1,500 is to formalise existing practices, said a top official on Wednesday. The principal secretary for Trade, Francis Lebon, made the statement in a press conference on Wednesday, after members of the public expressed confusion upon learning of the SI. Lebon stressed that this SI only affects commercial goods, stating that the similar allowance for personal goods provided for by SI 82, remains at SCR3000 ($218). The SI affects only the importation of commercial goods valued lower than R1500 ($108) and these goods are exempted from customs declaration through a bill of entry and payment of customs duty. Lebon said this has been in practice since 2013 but the government decided to make it formal.   «This decision was made after seeing that there were instances where the value of the commercial goods imported was lower than what it costs to declare them,» said Lebon. He gave the example of goods that could cost $5, but the bill of entry and taxes will cost more than the $5. «Now that this has been formalised, every Customs Officer, present and future will have to abide by it, as it will be part of the normal practices,» added Lebon.

The Seychelles' Supreme Court remanded five of six suspected Somali pirates piracy for 14 days at the Seychelles Prison Services, the police said on Wednesday. According to the Sea Trade Maritime daily news service on Wednesday, «Six suspected pirates involved in an attack on the Marshall Islands registered tanker Chrystal Arctic on 10 May have been handed over to the authorities in Seychelles for prosecution.» The six suspected pirates were handed over to the Seychelles authorities on May 14 by EU NAVFOR's Operation ATALANTA, added the news service. The Sea Trade Martitime news said the EU NAVFOR  issued a statement saying that «Operation ATALANTA has legal agreements with different nations in the Area of Operations, one of them being Seychelles, which allows for the trial of suspected pirates arrested by warships joining the operation.» The Seychelles Police said the suspects are aged 20 to 40 years and and three among them were taken to the hospital for treatment of the injuries on their bodies. According to the police, one of the Somalis, aged 20, was transported to Seychelles on Sunday by a Spanish military helicopter and was admitted to Seychelles Hospital for treatment.    

The cruise ship season is coming to an end and Seychelles has welcomed 38 vessels with around 68,000 visitors during that time, said a top tourism official on Tuesday.   The principal secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis, gave the figures and explained that despite receiving fewer ships than the 2022-2023 season, which was a total of 52. Seychelles received vessels with much larger passenger capacity this season. She described the season as a successful one coupled with the smooth running of all logistical operations.   «For that, I need to congratulate all partners in the industry, as without them we would not have been able to do it well,» said Francis. She added that all operators respected all regulations and facilities in place during the season and no incidents were reported like in previous years. «However, one of the challenges we do have is for us as a country to maximise tourists' spending when they arrive in Seychelles. Although I must say that there has been some improvement, we still can do more,» said Francis. She shared that the tourism department is doing a comprehensive study on the spending patterns of the visitors on cruise vessels. Francis described the season as a successful one coupled with the smooth running of all logistical operations. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY.  «We are being assisted by UNECA (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa) where by July or August this year, we will have a report that we could share with our partners and the media, which will give us a better idea of the benefits we receive from cruise ship passengers,» said the principal secretary. Francis added that the data collected at the moment is not enough to get the information needed. The chief executive of the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), Sony Payet, explained that with so many passengers entering the country at once, it is important that all partners work together to ensure smooth operations. «Since we are now having more visitors from cruise ships, I think that a committee must be put in place, featuring all invested parties, so that the services can improve,» added Payet. He also spoke of the need for a more vibrant Victoria, the capital, explaining that tourists need to have more things to do and to spend on, especially if they come into port on a Sunday, when everything is closed. «Many of these tourists have already been to other islands in the region and when they come to Seychelles they will not want to buy items similar to what they have already purchased in these other countries, which is why we must look at bringing our own unique products, to give them something different,» said Payet. The cruise ship season will close with the last ship expected in Port Victoria on Sunday, May 19. The next season will re-open in October 2024 and 44 ships have already been booked, a figure likely to increase in the coming months. 

The Seychelles' government has endorsed the candidature of former Vice President Vincent Meriton for the position of chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).  According to the Foreign Affairs Department in a communique on Wednesday, the election is scheduled for February 2025. The Department said that during his career as a politician, Meriton held numerous portfolios in the government, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Health and Social Affairs, Information Technology, the Blue Economy and Entrepreneurship Development. Meriton was the Vice President during Danny Faure’s presidency from 2016 to 2020. It added that Meriton has also championed Seychelles’ position on the Blue Economy on the international stage. “Meriton’s core objective as chairperson of the AUC is to significantly improve the implementation rate of the Commission’s executive decisions by addressing barriers to implementation and promoting accountability and compliance,” said the Department. The chairperson of the Commission is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once. If elected, Meriton will succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat from Chad, who has held the position since 2017.

The United States will back Ukraine until its security is «guaranteed», US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed on a trip to Kyiv on Tuesday, after Russian forces claimed further advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Blinken's visit came just weeks after the US Congress finally approved a $61-billion financial aid package for Ukraine following months of political wrangling, unlocking much-needed arms for the country's outgunned troops. «We're with you today. And we will stay by your side, until Ukraine's security, sovereignty, and ability to choose its own path is guaranteed,» Blinken said in a speech. «The assistance is now on its way. Some of it has already arrived. More will be arriving,» he had told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting earlier. «That's going to make a real difference against the ongoing Russian aggression on the battlefield,» he said. Zelensky thanked Washington for the aid, which he said was «crucial» -- but stressed it was «important to get it as quickly as possible». «We need a noticeable acceleration of supplies. Now too much time passes between the announcement of packages and the actual appearance of weapons on the frontline,» he said in an evening address. Zelensky said air defence was the «biggest problem» for Ukraine and requested two Patriot batteries for the Kharkiv region, where Russian forces have been advancing and pounding villages along the border since Friday. Blinken was on his fourth visit to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. After meeting Zelensky, he met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Veterano, a pizzeria set up by a military veteran in the city centre. Driving his point home at a visit to an underground Kyiv bar, the Barman Dictat, later on Tuesday, Blinken picked up a guitar and sang the Neil Young classic «Rockin' in the Free World», accompanied by Ukrainian musicians. - 'Minimal human losses' - Russia's surprise ground offensive in the Kharkiv region has forced thousands to evacuate and pushed Kyiv to mobilise troop reinforcements. Ukraine said several civilians have been killed by Russian fire in the region, including on Tuesday two people aged 80 and 83. Officials in the region's main municipality, also called Kharkiv -- Ukraine's second-biggest city -- said Russian strikes hit the centre, injuring 20 people. One civilian, a 47-year-old man, was also reported killed in the city of Nikopol in southern Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry meanwhile said its forces had captured another village in the Kharkiv region. «Units of the North group of troops liberated the village of Bugruvatka in the Kharkiv region and advanced deep into the enemy defences,» the ministry said. The advance is the latest in a string of tactical successes for Russia on the battlefield this year after initial setbacks in a conflict that Moscow hoped would be wrapped up in days. Russia's incoming defence minister, economist Andrei Belousov, said the priority was to secure victory on the battlefield while minimising human losses. «The key task, of course, remains achieving victory and ensuring the military-political goals of the special military operation, set by the president, are achieved,» Belousov told a session of the Russian parliament on Tuesday. «In this respect, I want to especially emphasise 'with minimal human losses'.» - 'Firing on everything' - The Ukrainian army has acknowledged Russian successes in Kharkiv but Zelensky has stressed that reinforcements have been sent there and Ukrainian «counterattacks are ongoing». At a checkpoint outside the city of Kharkiv, a Ukrainian official said Russian forces had entered Ukraine through «villages on the very border that were complicated for us to defend». Russian forces «are on high ground and are shelling us from there», added Volodymyr Usov, head of the Kharkiv district military administration. The head of Ukraine's security council, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, said Moscow had massively upped its troop deployment for the new offensive in the Kharkiv region. In an interview this week with AFP, he said Russia had sent more than 30,000 troops over the border, but insisted there was no threat of an assault on Kharkiv city. Usov, the Kharkiv district head, estimated there were still around 300 residents left in Lyptsi, a border village under Russian bombardment. «They are shelling the villages, firing on everything they can,» Sergiy Kryvetchenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian military administration in Lyptsi, told AFP. State power operator Ukrenergo said it was forced to introduce emergency blackouts in all regions of the country on Tuesday after weeks of Russian strikes on power plants left the country unable to meet demand during a cold snap. © Agence France-Presse

The International Energy Agency announced on Tuesday that $2.2 billion had been pledged by governments and companies to improve access to less deadly and polluting cooking methods in Africa. More than two billion people cook on basic stoves or over open fires and exposure to this smoke is a leading cause of early death around the world. These cooking methods also harm the planet, with carbon-absorbing forests stripped for firewood and emissions from burning these dirty fuels a major contributor to global warming. Only around one-third of the money needed to drive the global switch to cleaner cooking methods like LPG or electric stoves is raised every year, according to the IEA. At a world-first summit, representatives from 60 nations and leaders from business and development sectors pledged $2.2 billion to help African households combat the scourge. «This summit has delivered an emphatic commitment to an issue that has been ignored by too many people, for too long,» said IEA executive director Fatih Birol, whose agency co-hosted the Paris gathering with the African Development Bank. «We still have a long way to go,» he added. A little over half of the money pledged came from the private sector, with around 30 percent in the form of favourable loans from public funds and the rest in carbon credits. It is still modest: the IEA says around $8 billion is needed annually to address the problem, half of that in Africa, but only around $2.5 billion is raised worldwide. Progress has been made in Asia but in sub-Saharan Africa, four out of five households still reply on highly polluting cooking fuels like wood, charcoal, coal, animal dung and agricultural waste. Burning these pollute indoor and outdoor air with fine particles that penetrate the lungs and cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including cancer and strokes. The threat is particularly acute for women and children, who are also prevented from accessing education or earning a wage as they spend hours looking for fuel. Switching to clean cooking methods would save 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 a year by 2030 -- roughly the amount emitted by ships and planes last year, according to the IEA. «Successfully advancing the clean cooking agenda in Africa would contribute towards protecting the environment, climate, health, and ensuring gender equality,» said Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who attended the summit. Birol said the IEA would «rigorously track the commitments announced today to make sure they’re met on time and in full». © Agence France-Presse

After seven years in office, the Ombudsman of Seychelles, Nichole Tirant-Gherardi, will end her mandate at the end of May. Prior to her appointment as the Ombudsman, she served as the chief editor for the Today in Seychelles newspaper and was also the secretary general of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) from 1999 to 20101. She is a barrister and attorney-at-law with a diverse experience and background. As she comes to the end of her term as Ombudsman, despite the challenges, Tirant-Gherardi told SNA she can count many accomplishments during her tenure.   SNA: You are leaving your position as Ombudsman, after seven years, how does that feel? NTG: The mandate of an Ombudsman is quite long, it is for seven years. I am now past retirement age, and I don't think I can continue giving the same amount of energy to the job for another seven years. So, I do not want to start something that I will have to quit after two years. Plus, I think it's time for somebody else to come in, with new ideas and bring this work further.   SNA: Tell us about your achievements and challenges as Ombudsman. NTG: What I have done before my departure is to create what I have called a handover report, which I have given a copy to the Constitutional Appointees Authority (CAA). This will help prepare questions for the interviews with my potential successor. I also wish that the report can be published, as I spoke about my work for the past seven years. I also believe that I have improved this institution during my time. This is a very important institution and unfortunately, I think that it has fallen by the wayside. I have gone overseas and also worked a lot locally, to give it the visibility it deserves. There needs to be a lot of education to ensure people understand the role of the Ombudsman and other government institutions, but that is not something I can do on my own.   SNA: Have you made any changes to the office itself? NGT: Yes. I have changed a lot in the Office of the Ombudsman and I feel it will make it easier for whoever comes after me to settle into the job, and look to continue what I started and even improve upon it. We have put a lot of procedures in place concerning how we process reports and how we deal with them. We have also worked to give the office more visibility and for that, I want to thank the media for coming to us and giving us a space to share what we do with the public. I have noticed that every time we appear on the local media, the number of cases we receive go up. The Ombudsman presenting her annual to President Wavel Ramkalawan. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY    SNA: Do you receive a lot of complaints at your office? NGT: We have received over 2,000 complaints here and so we have created a database, called a case management system, which allows us to have quick access to all documents linked to any of the cases we work on. This is something we are really proud of and has made things more effective for us. We have also re-branded the logo and made some small changes to it aimed at making the office more visible to the public. We are also affiliated with two international bodies, and in both of them, I was elected on the executive committee. We also have updated our website, where all information about us can be seen.   SNA: Is there anything you feel you have not achieved or could have done better during your time as Ombudsman? NGT: Well, what I wish we could have done better is to see the office focus more on what we call 'own motions'. This allows the Ombudsman to verify complaints and remove the person from this problem and focus instead on the problem itself, which could be at a particular ministry or multiple ministries, then make a more detailed investigation. When we finish with this type of investigation, we will be able to come out with a report that covers that particular issue in all aspects with recommendations on how to solve such issues. This will allow for the identification of issues within the ministries themselves, which can help reduce the number of grievances reported.   SNA: Now that you are leaving this position can you tell us more about your professional journey? NGT: I have had a long career doing a lot of different things. For me, variety is the spice of life. I have never been happy when I am not learning something new, and I always want to push myself and get to a higher level. I started my career in administration at the Ministry of Agriculture in 1978, after completing my law degree. After that I went back to complete my final year of my law studies and became a lawyer, working with the Attorney General's office for some years. Then I worked for two years at a parastatal law agency, Francis Rachel Law Centre, and then went back to University in France where I specialised in international marketing, which was my first departure from law. In 1994, I returned to Seychelles for good, where I went back to being a lawyer and did not like it as I felt I was not moving forward. I left to become the secretary general of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce. I spent 11 years there because there was a lot to learn.   Then a bit of political interest brought me to the media world, where I joined Today in Seychelles at its inception, another completely new job for me. But if you ask me, where I enjoyed the most, it was there, although it was also the toughest place I worked. Then, finally, I moved to be Ombudsman. I had always wanted to become a judge, and sent a lot of applications, but that never worked out, and so being an ombudsman was the closest I could get to that dream.   SNA: You said you want to take things a little lighter now, what can we expect from you then? NGT: Yes, I think you might see me somewhere else soon enough. I have done a lot of research and learned a lot of things, and that increased my interest in NGOs that's something that I would like to see myself in and look to bring more awareness to the work of the Ombudsman and also look at ways where I can transmit the things I have learned to the younger generation.   SNA: Is there anything final message that you wish to share? NGT: The only thing I want to add is that I have really enjoyed my time here. Honestly, I never thought I would last the whole seven years, but these seven years went by so fast. I think I got a lot of respect from the Seychellois public and I have really appreciated that. 

Kylian Mbappe was named France's player of the year on Monday at an awards ceremony in Paris, as he comes to the end of his seven-season stay with Paris Saint-Germain. Mbappe, 25, picked up the prize for the best player in Ligue 1 at the UNFP (French players' union) Trophies gala for the fifth time in a row after a season in which he has scored 44 goals in all competitions for PSG. The France captain last week confirmed he will leave PSG at the end of the campaign when his contract expires, with Real Madrid expected to be his next destination. «It is a page that is turning, a chapter of my life that is going to close,» Mbappe said. «Ligue 1 will always have an important place in my life. It is the only league I have known in my career up to now. »I have always tried to be an honourable representative of this league,« he added. »I will miss it for sure. It is a part of my life that is coming to an end. What is coming next is very exciting but that is something else." Mbappe played his final home game for PSG on Sunday and scored as the champions suffered a shock 3-1 defeat against Toulouse. That goal took him to 27 for the season in Ligue 1, eight goals more than the next best marksman, Lille's Canadian striker Jonathan David. The season is not finished yet, with Mbappe's PSG having two more Ligue 1 games to play this week before the French Cup final against Lyon on May 25. Mbappe saw off the other nominees for an award voted for by his fellow players and handed over by Marie-Jose Perec, the French former 200m and 400m Olympic champion. His PSG teammate Ousmane Dembele had also been in contention along with Pierre Lees-Melou of Brest, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Marseille and Edon Zhegrova of Lille. PSG's domestic dominance was reflected in the other awards, with teenage midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery named young player of the season and Gianluigi Donnarumma the best goalkeeper. Eric Roy of Brest was named coach of the year after leading the modest Brittany club to European qualification for the first time in their history -- with one game left they are guaranteed to finish at least fifth, meaning a Europa League place at worst. © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) aims to foster closer relationships with the communities located around two of the reserves it manages in a «give back campaign.» The announcement was made in a press conference on Monday and the chief executive of SIF, Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, said, «A subject that has always come up, was the relationship between Vallee de Mai and the Praslinois.» The Vallee de Mai Reserve consists of a well-preserved palm forest, and the flagship species is the island's endemic coco de mer with five other endemic palms. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 and is managed by SIF, a public trust mandated to protect and manage the UNESCO World Heritage properties of the island nation. The two sites are the Vallee de Mai and the Aldabra Atoll and SIF also manages the Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve on Praslin, the second most populated island of Seychelles. One of the events of the «Give back campaign» of SIF was a donation of SCR 100,000 ($7,203) worth of equipment to the hospital on Praslin. «This was our first gesture to the Praslinois and this is when we decided that this should not be a one-off but a continuous thing,» said the CEO. Among the other activities of the campaign will be creating a fund to give back to Praslin residents as part of the celebration 130th anniversary of the Fond Ferdinand.  «Next year will be 130 years since the government at the time bought the property with the aim of protecting coco de mer. [...] SIF wants to talk about it both internationally and nationally to show the importance of the site,» said Fleischer-Dogley SIF is planning to open Fond Ferndinand's doors to the public with more information. The CEO revealed that as there are apple tree forests on the site it comes with a lot of culture and «we want to turn it into something that resembles Domaine Val de Pres.» Domaine de Val des Pres, located at St Roch Au Cap on the main island of Mahe, is a re-creation of a traditional Creole village to promote the culture and provide a platform for local artisans to sell their work. The Fond Ferdinand concept is to also help artisans on Praslin to have a platform to display their works. «We are very excited, as this aligns with the government's view on cottage industry and will also bring in a new product that will make a difference on Praslin, » said Fleischer-Dogley. At the SIF's last annual general meeting, it was decided that the organisation should have a policy in place that clearly outlines how much it will donate annually and what criteria to follow when deciding how to give back. At the moment, the Foundation is giving back through sponsoring prizes in schools such as the winners at the Seychelles Maritime Academy. Finally, it was also revealed that work will begin in earnest on the Aldabra House project since its new locations at Providence have been agreed upon. «We want to bring a taste of Aldabra on Mahe for tourists and Seychellois alike who cannot visit the atoll,» explained SIF board of trustees chairperson, Bernard Georges. Aldabra House project was cancelled in August 2019 following a proposed widening of the road at Providence in the designated area designated for the project. 

A training expert from Zambia is in Seychelles to assist the island nation to bring agricultural education to secondary schools so that the sector can continue to grow.   Vistah Medenda, an agricultural education and training expert, is on a one week visit and will be meeting with various people to discuss the way forward. The focus will be on capacity building and pedagogical development of agriculture in secondary schools, as well as the Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (SIAH). One of the main parts of this programme is the development of an agriculture curriculum for secondary schools, as well as the creation of agriculture textbooks that are tailor-made for Seychellois students. «The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Energy want to make agriculture a core subject, rather than part of other subjects taught in schools,» Mudenda told reporters on Monday. In his meeting with the Ministry of Education, Mudenda shared part of a presentation on the use of digital technology in agriculture. He said this can entice more young people to want to take up the subject. «At the moment, agriculture is seen as something that should be done mainly by the uneducated and that it is a dirty job, but the use of digital technology will hopefully help to change that perception,» he added. Mudenda said the visit will help him better understand agriculture in Seychelles and enable him to work on creating a curriculum for the island nation's needs. Mudenda has already written numerous textbooks on agriculture that are being used in schools in Zambia for over 30 years. During his visit, he will visit SIAH, meet with ministers and other experts, and visit a local farm, to get a better sense of the sector in Seychelles. Discussions on the future of agricultural education in Seychelles started last year. This was through a meeting of the Minister of Education, Justin Valentin and the Minister responsible for agriculture, Flavien Joubert.   The government will now work to facilitate exchanges between Seychelles and Zambia and look for internship opportunities for teachers, lecturers and students. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, imports around 90 percent of its food and has, in the past couple of years, started refining its plans for food security.

India's six-week election resumed Monday including in Kashmir, where voters appeared eager to express discontent with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cancellation of their disputed territory's semi-autonomy and the security crackdown that followed. Modi remains popular across much of India and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to win the poll when it concludes early next month. But his government's decision in 2019 to bring Kashmir under its direct rule -- and the subsequent clampdown -- have been deeply resented among the region's residents, who voted Monday for the first time since the move. «I voted for changing the current government. It must happen for our children to have a good future,» civil servant Habibullah Parray told AFP. «Everywhere you go in Kashmir today you find people from outside in charge. Everyone wants that to change.» Boycotts called by rebel groups left few Kashmiris willing to participate in past elections, with just over 14 percent of eligible voters in Srinagar casting a ballot during the last national poll in 2019. By the time polls closed on Monday, nearly 36 percent of eligible voters in the constituency had cast a ballot, well below India's average turnout but the highest figure in the constituency in nearly three decades. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947. Both claim it in full and have fought two wars over control of the Himalayan region. Rebel groups opposed to Indian rule have waged an insurgency since 1989 on the side of the frontier controlled by New Delhi, demanding either independence or a merger with Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of backing the insurgents, a charge that Islamabad denies. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of soldiers, rebels and civilians in the decades since, including a spate of firefights between suspected rebels and security forces in the past month. - 'Referendum' - Violence has dwindled since the Indian portion of the territory was brought under direct rule five years ago, a move that saw the mass arrest of local political leaders and a months-long telecommunications blackout to forestall expected protests. Modi's government says its cancelling of Kashmir's special status has brought «peace and development», and it has consistently claimed the move was supported by Kashmiris. But his party has not fielded any candidates in the Kashmir valley for the first time since 1996, and experts say the BJP would have been roundly defeated if it had. «They would lose, simple as that,» political analyst and historian Sidiq Wahid told AFP last week. For voters, the election was «a referendum in order to voice their disagreement» with the Modi government's actions in Kashmir, he added. The BJP has appealed to voters to instead support smaller and newly created parties that have publicly aligned with Modi's policies. But voters looked set to back one of two established Kashmiri political parties calling for the Modi government's changes to be reversed. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, whose National Conference party is campaigning for the restoration of Kashmir's special status, said his allies had urged voters to make their feelings known. «The point of view that we want people to send out is that what happened... is not acceptable to them,» he told AFP. Before the changes in 2019, permanent residents in the Muslim-majority territory had enjoyed land and jobs protections. In rural districts outside Srinagar, the region's biggest city, army soldiers patrolled roads in convoys of bulletproof vehicles. Several polling booths around the constituency had more than two dozen paramilitary troops guarding voter queues. - Nearly one billion voters - India's election is conducted in seven phases over six weeks to ease the immense logistical burden of staging the democratic exercise in the world's most populous country. More than 968 million people are eligible to vote in India's election, with the final round of polling on June 1 and results expected three days later. Voter turnout elsewhere in India has so far declined significantly from 2019 to around 66 percent, according to election commission figures. Analysts have blamed widespread expectations that Modi will easily win a third term and hotter-than-average temperatures heading into the summer. India's weather bureau has forecast more hot spells in May and the election commission formed a taskforce last month to review the impact of heat and humidity before each round of voting. © Agence France-Presse

There has been a rise in demand for fish-based value-added products in Seychelles over the years and there is a need for more of these types of products in the market, according to a top official of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). The head of the Product Development and Quality Assurance Department, Margaret Ally, told SNA, «As people grow more conscious of and concerned about their health, we have observed a rise in interest in and demand for fish products among our locals when we do promotional campaigns.» Ally said that through activities with school students, «we notice the shift in the mindset of fish and fish products as they become more appreciative of the many products that can be derived from fish and still taste good. The products' availability and supply, however, may still be constrained.» She emphasised that many people like this idea because of the convenience, especially on a day-to-day basis and it is much easier to purchase fish cubes than to purchase a whole fish to clean at home but any value addition will increase the price. Through a promotional campaign, SFA found out which products people enjoy the most, however, Ally admits that there is more work to be done before this concept is fully integrated in the country. She said the industry saw the development from one canning factory to nine other local licensed fish exporters. Their products vary but are mainly fresh whole or loins of tuna and demersal fin fish. «In terms of the local market, we've noticed that consumers appreciate the added value products like fish burgers, smoked fish, and fillets, which are healthier options and convenient for the community. Much more work remains and it also depends on market acceptability, which can take some time. With the allocation of land and processing facilities, as well as through campaigns, the government continues to support and encourage the development of value addition,» added Ally. The demand is high and, as of yet, local production is not enough for the actual demand. «A lot is being done by local businesses to put added-value products on the market, but we can still see imported and non-seafood products dominating the retail shops, so no, until fish products as fresh, healthier options for our population dominate the local retail shelf, there are not enough fish-added-value products,» said Ally. She added that the fish processing sector plays a major role in Seychelles' economy, and the canning to fish exportation excluding processors for the local market, have played a role in the flow of foreign exchange. Ally said the importance of the fisheries sector was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only for export but also for how the fishermen and fish processors were ensuring the supply of fish in the retail shops. «We have seen many people willing to venture into the business of fish value-added products, creating wealth opportunities. We have Zone 14 at Ile du Port for value addition, which will create job opportunities and further the development of our economy. We also have the export of sea cucumber. It is important to note that any process done to the fish from the moment it is caught is a form of value addition,» she said. Fisheries is the second top contributor to the economy of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.  

The number of people killed by flash floods and cold lava flow from a volcano in western Indonesia over the weekend has risen to 41 with 17 more missing, a local disaster agency official told AFP Monday. Hours of heavy rain caused large volcanic rocks to roll down one of Indonesia's most active volcanos into two districts on Sumatra island Saturday evening, while flooding inundated roads, homes and mosques. «Data as of last night, we recorded 37 dead victims... But from this morning it has grown again, the figure reached 41 (dead),» Ilham Wahab, West Sumatra disaster mitigation agency official, told AFP. Rescuers were searching for 17 still missing, three in Agam district and 14 in Tanah Datar, both the worst-hit areas of the flood and home to hundreds of thousands of people, he said. Ilham could not confirm the number of locals evacuated because officials had encouraged «people to evacuate to relatives' places, which are safer» than tent shelters in heavy rains. «We are focused on first, searching and rescuing the victims, second, protecting the evacuees, protecting the vulnerable people,» he said. Roads in the districts were turned into rivers, with mosques and houses damaged. Heavy rains inundated neighbourhoods with muddy flood waters and swept vehicles into a nearby river, while volcanic ash and large rocks rumbled down Mount Marapi. Cold lava, also known as lahar, is volcanic material such as ash, sand and pebbles carried down a volcano's slopes by rain. - 'Have mercy' - Authorities sent a team of rescuers and rubber boats to look for the missing victims and to transport people to shelters. The local government set up evacuation centres and emergency posts in several areas of Agam and Tanah Datar. The national disaster mitigation agency, or BNPB, said 84 homes, 16 bridges and two mosques were damaged in Tanah Datar, as were 20 hectares (50 acres) of rice fields. Survivors recounted their horror when the flooding and rockfall began. «I heard the thunder and the sound similar to boiling water. It was the sound of big rocks falling,» housewife Rina Devina told AFP, adding that three of her neighbours were killed. «It was pitch black, so I used my cellphone as a flashlight. The road was muddy, so I chanted 'God, have mercy!' over and over again,» she said of her evacuation to a local official's office. Indonesia is prone to landslides and floods during the rainy season. In 2022, about 24,000 people were evacuated and two children were killed in floods on Sumatra island, with environmental campaigners blaming deforestation caused by logging for worsening the disaster. © Agence France-Presse

Russia said Sunday it had captured four more villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as thousands of residents were evacuated from the offensive in an area where Russian troops were repelled in 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky said «fierce fighting» was under way and governor Oleg Synegubov said «all areas» of the regional border with Russia were now «under enemy fire almost around the clock». In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin moved to replace defence minister Sergei Shoigu, in what would be a major shake-up of the military leadership. Across the border in the Russian city of Belgorod, emergency services said 15 people were killed when a residential building was hit by a Ukrainian missile after it was intercepted by air defences. In Ukraine, local prosecutors said four civilians had been killed in the Kharkiv region in the Russian ground offensive, which was launched on Friday. The Ukrainian army's top commander said that although the situation was «complicated», his forces were managing to hold back further Russian advances. But Russia's defence ministry said its forces had «advanced deeply into the enemy defences», a day after claiming the capture of five villages in Kharkiv region. At an evacuation point near the front line in the Kharkiv region, AFP reporters on Sunday saw groups of people evacuated from around the border town of Vovchansk, most of them elderly and disoriented. «We weren't going to leave. Home is home,» said 72-year-old Lyuda Zelenskaya, hugging a trembling cat named Zhora. Liuba Konovalova, 70, said she had endured a «really terrifying» night before her evacuation. Volunteers assisted evacuees to a few wooden benches where they registered and received food before being evacuated towards Kharkiv, the regional capital. In the last few days, nearly 6,000 residents in and around Vovchansk have been evacuated, said Kharkiv governor Synegubov. «Defensive battles and fierce fighting continue on a large part of our border,» Zelensky said in his evening address. «There are villages that have actually turned from a 'grey zone' into a combat zone, and the occupier is trying to gain a foothold in some of them, or simply use them for further advancement,» he said. A «grey zone» is territory not fully controlled by either side. Zelensky added the situation was «extremely difficult» around Vovchansk. - 'Everything is being destroyed' - Speaking at an evacuation point near Vovchansk, Oleksiy Kharkivsky, a senior police officer helping to coordinate evacuations, said the area was «constantly under fire». «Everything in the city is being destroyed... You hear constant explosions, artillery, mortars. The enemy is hitting the city with everything they have,» he said. Officials estimated there were still around 500 civilians left in Vovchansk as Russian troops close in. Volodymyr Tymoshko, head of police in the Kharkiv region, said the town was being attacked on three sides and Russian troops were on the outskirts. «Despite active fighting, the police are still taking out people who live some 300, 500 metres from the contact line at the moment,» he told AFP at the evacuation point. Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said on social media that his army's defences were holding but conceded the situation in the Kharkiv region had «deteriorated significantly». - 'Return the initiative to Ukraine' - In Kharkiv itself, mayor Igor Terekhov was quoted by the city council as saying there was no reason for people to leave the city despite the offensive. «Despite all the events that are taking place in the region, Kharkiv is calm. We do not see people leaving,» he was quoted as saying. On Saturday, AFP saw groups of people fleeing the border area arriving in vans and cars loaded with bags at a reception centre for evacuees near Kharkiv. Evacuees -- most of them elderly -- received food and medical assistance. Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukrainian troops had been carrying out counterattacks in the border villages. «Disrupting Russian offensive plans is now our number one task,» he said. Troops must «return the initiative to Ukraine», the president insisted, again urging Western allies to speed up arms deliveries. Ukrainian officials had warned for weeks that Moscow might try to attack its northeastern border regions, pressing its advantage as Ukraine struggles with delays in Western aid and manpower shortages. Putin's announcement that Shoigu was being removed as defence minister is expected to be approved by Russia's parliament on Tuesday. His replacement, Andrey Belousov, has no military background. He has been one of Putin's most influential economic advisers over the last decade. Shoigu has been named as secretary of the Security Council, replacing long-standing Putin ally Nikolai Patrushev. © Agence France-Presse

IndiGo, one of the fastest growing air carriers from India, intends to launch flights to Seychelles in October 2024, according to the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA). The authority announced on Friday that this follows bilateral aviation talks between Seychelles and India last week. The airline is expected to conduct three weekly flights to the archipelago and is currently in final discussions with its authority in India, to secure all necessary approvals. IndiGo is also in discussion with the authorities in Seychelles. The discussion aims to focus on the further liberalisation of the air transport arrangement between the two countries to introduce fresh provisions. It will also create more opportunities for airlines of both countries to enjoy greater operational flexibility.   The chief executive of SCAA, Garry Albert, said that the launch of these flights by IndiGO is a direct result of the modern air services framework between our two countries. «These arrangements negotiated by the government yield tangible results and it is the people of Seychelles who reap the ultimate benefits,» he added. Group photo of Seychelles and Indian delegation. During the discussion, Albert noted the importance of such engagement, highlighting that the «sustenance of our excellent bilateral relations hinges on our two sides regularly engaging in dialogue to find new avenues to strengthen our partnership. India's growth in the aviation sector has been impressive and the rest of the world watches in awe as the country becomes an important international hub in the region, supporting global economic growth». On his part, Shri Asangba Chuba Ao, joint jecretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India, who headed the Indian delegation, emphasised the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries for many decades. As a result, Seychelles is becoming an up and coming destination of choice for Indian tourists. He said that there has been an increasing interest by Indian carriers to operate direct flights to Seychelles. The demand for travel to Seychelles is increasing significantly, as such, making these talks important to create the space to facilitate commercial air operations, for the mutual benefits of the two countries. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, and India signed an Air Services Agreement in 2015 that airlines of both countries have been using as the basis for their operations. The two countries are currently connected by a direct Air Seychelles flight to Mumbai once a week. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline was conducting five weekly flights to India. Despite the dip in frequency on the route, there has been a growth of over 50 percent in Indian visitors to Seychelles from 2022 to 2023. During the talks, Seychelles was also informed of the interest of a second Indian carrier to start flights to Seychelles, in the near future. India is the world's fifth largest economy leapfrogging France and the UK. Having undergone tremendous transformation over the years, India has positioned itself among the most chosen destinations by many tourists and as a medical tourism destination for Seychellois. Other travellers seek educational opportunities and other professional development options. 

Emergency aid and rescue teams struggled on Sunday to reach areas of northern Afghanistan hardest hit by flash floods that killed hundreds, AFP journalists saw. Heavy rains caused flash flooding in several provinces in Afghanistan on Friday. Northern Baghlan was the worst impacted, with efforts to deliver aid hampered by destruction to roads and bridges wrought when the floods ripped through the province. In Sheikh Jalal, about a two-hour drive from Burka, one of the most devastated areas, AFP journalists saw aid trucks full of food, military vehicles, rescue workers and local residents stuck where roads had been completely washed out. The military was using heavy machinery to pave the way, as well as to free aid trucks stuck in the mud. Mohammad Ali Aryanfar, part of a team from the Turkish Hak Humanitarian Relief Association trying to deliver food to Burka, said they had been on the road since early morning Sunday but were blocked in Sheikh Jalal. «Our compatriots there (in Burka) need assistance and we pray that the road opens and we reach the area,» he told AFP. «People's houses have been destroyed and they don't have anything, they don't have shelters,» he added. The United Nations World Food Programme shared a photo on social media site X of WFP-stamped bags of flour strapped to donkeys' backs, saying it had to «resort to every alternative to get food to the survivors who lost everything» in Baghlan, as most of the affected areas were «inaccessible by trucks». The Taliban government refugees ministry said on Sunday that 315 people had been killed and more than 1,600 people were injured in the flooding in Baghlan. More than 2,600 homes have been damaged or destroyed and 1,000 cattle killed, it added. Farmland has also been swamped in the poverty-wracked nation where 80 percent of its more than 40 million people depend on agriculture to survive. WFP confirmed a toll of more than 300 dead in Baghlan to AFP on Saturday. Taliban authorities and non-governmental groups warned that the death toll could rise. About 600,000 people live in the five most severely impacted districts in Baghlan, according to NGO Save the Children. So far this year, «nearly 13,000 people in Afghanistan have been impacted by disasters caused by extreme weather, including floods and landslides», it said in a statement. The country, ravaged by four decades of war, is one of the world's poorest and, according to scientists, one of the worst prepared to face the consequences of global warming. © Agence France-Presse

In an effort to develop local young leaders in the hospitality industry, Hilton Seychelles has created an 18-month programme, said a top official. The manager for cluster learning and development for Hilton Seychelles, Medna Latulipe, said that this programme is designed for local talents to be developed to take up key positions in the food and beverage or rooms departments, front office or housekeeping. Latulipe told SNA the programme has two placements in two Hilton Hotels in Seychelles. «The first placement is for nine months, with rotation in numerous departments such as kitchen, food and beverage, HR (Human Resources), and engineering. The second placement is also for nine months where the successful candidate is placed in departments such as front office, housekeeping, sales and marketing, and finance,» she added. Additionally, to the placements, there is also a theory component that the participants will have to complete during this time. «There are also two projects which need to be completed after each placement and there are numerous online trainings as well as formal classroom training to attend,» said Latulipe. She emphasised that this is a fast-track leadership development programme «designed to help the candidates understand the functions of each department, which eventually will help him/her better lead their team as they would have understood the basics and requirements of the departments before taking up a leadership role. It is not based on only technical skills, but also interpersonal and soft skills required to successfully lead a team and become a trusted leader.» To apply, applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree, be fluent in English, eligible to work in the Seychelles, have full mobility across Seychelles and be willing to relocate as required. «Hilton is committed to developing young local talents who can lead Hilton Hotels and the hospitality industry as a whole. Expectations are commitment and devotion from the successful candidate to complete all the requirements of the programme to secure an assistant head of department  or head of department position at the end of the 18 months,» she said. Tourism is the top contributor to the economy of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, and the first hotel to come under the Hilton brand management to set up in the island nation was Hilton Northolme Resort and Spa in 2007. A year later, Hilton Labriz opened on the third biggest island of Seychelles, Silhouette, followed in 2013 by the DoubleTree by Hilton Allamanda Resort and Spa in the south of the main island. Most recently, Mango House Seychelles LXR Hotels & Resorts, a Hilton brand, opened in 2021, and this has now been followed by two more resorts in the space of two months, with the Waldorf Astoria on Ile Platte, and the latest one to open is Canopy by Hilton at Anse Boileau.

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Friday to grant the Palestinians additional rights in the global body and backed their drive for full membership, which is blocked by the United States. Israel's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan reacted angrily to the largely symbolic vote, while Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour said it was historic. With the war in Gaza raging, the Palestinians in April relaunched a request dating back to 2011 to become full members of the United Nations, where their current status is that of a «nonmember observer state.» To succeed, the initiative needed a UN Security Council green light and then a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly. But the United States -- one of five veto-holding members on the Security Council and Israel's closest ally -- blocked it on April 18. Before Friday's vote, Palestinian ambassador Mansour said «I have stood hundreds of times before at this podium, but never for a more significant vote than the one about to take place, an historic one.» «The day will come where Palestine will take its rightful place among the community of free nations,» he added. But Israeli ambassador Erdan fired back, saying the UN Charter was being abused and making his point by putting a printout of the charter through a shredder as he stood at the podium. «With this new precedent, we may see here representatives of ISIS or Boko Haram that will sit among us,» Erdan said, referring to two jihadist groups. He said it would give «the rights of a state to an entity that is already partly controlled by terrorists, and will be replaced by a force of child-murdering Hamas rapists.» The United States opposes any recognition of statehood outside of a bilateral accord between the Palestinians and Israel, whose right-wing government is adamantly opposed to a two-state solution. US deputy ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said after the resolution passed that while «our vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood... it remains the US view that unilateral measures at the UN and on the ground will not advance this goal.» The resolution gives the Palestinians «additional rights and privileges» starting in the next session of the General Assembly, in September. - 'Symbolism is what matters' - Richard Gowan, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the move could create «a sort of diplomatic doom loop, with the Assembly repeatedly calling for the Council to grant Palestine membership and the US vetoing it.» The text explicitly rules out letting the Palestinians be chosen to sit on the Security Council or to vote in the General Assembly. But it lets them submit proposals and amendments directly, without having to go through another country, as is the case now. It also gives them the right to be seated among member states in alphabetical order. The resolution was approved by a vote of 143 to 9 with 25 nations abstaining. «The symbolism is what matters,» said Gowan. «This resolution is a very clear signal to Israel and the US that it is time to take Palestinian statehood seriously.» The war began with Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,943 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The Hamas militant group welcomed the passage of the UN measure, which it called «a reaffirmation of international solidarity with our people.» © Agence France-Presse

Angelina Smythe capped off an impressive performance at the 2024 Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA ) Games for Zone 7 by winning a fifth gold medal for Seychelles in swimming on the final day of competition on Friday.  Smythe’s final gold medal came in the girls’ 200m individual medley event, where she finished with a time of 2:34.84, to win the race ahead of Andrianaivo Ony of Madagascar, while Mauritius’ Alysson Yene Teck was third.  On the final day, Team Seychelles gave a good performance and Smythe won another silver and bronze medal, while as a team, Seychelles won bronze in the 100m medley relay.  Smythe won silver in the girls 100m freestyle race, where after a tight finish, she was just beaten to the finish line by Miranda Razafindrandretsa of Madagascar. Smythe’s time was 1:03.26.  In the 50m butterfly race, Smythe earned a bronze medal after another very close race, where she was edged out by Chloe Ah Chip of Mauritius (30.28s) and Ony (30.36s). Smythe finished the race in 30.95 seconds.  Seychellois Amos Ferley won silver in the boys’ 100m freestyle race, where another tight finish saw him finish second in 55.11 seconds, just behind Baritiana Andriampenomanana from Madagascar, whose time was 54.94. In the girls’ 200m butterfly event, Seychellois swimmer Dorianne Bristol claimed a bronze medal, after finishing in 2 minutes 52.48 seconds behind Ah Chip of Mauritius (2:43.34s) and Yene Teck (2:47.96s).  Seychellois Lihandro Pierre was the other bronze medallist after he finished third in the 200m butterfly event for boys in i2:45.63, well behind first placed Matteo Tin Wan Yuen (2:15.37s) and Andriampenomanana (2:20.26s).  After the last day, in swimming, Seychelles remained third place on the final medals table with 27 total medals - 7 gold, 5 silver and 15 bronze - while Mauritius overtook Madagascar to first place, with 43 medals including 15 gold, 10 silver and 18 bronze. Madagascar came out second with 33 medals - 12 gold, 19 silver and 2 bronze.   Seychelles’ swimming coach, Robert Suzette, said that he was very happy with the performance of the young swimmers.  “In general, I think the swimmers performed to a good level, where it was also a good preparation for the upcoming competitions that they have,” said Suzette, who added that the medal haul for Seychelles shows that the athletes gave their all and worked hard.  Aside from swimming, the ANOCA Games featured table tennis, beach volleyball and 3x3 basketball.  In basketball, the Seychelles girls’ team was able to claim a silver medal, after losing the final to Madagascar on a 21-0 scoreline, while in beach volleyball, the girls' team was able to win the battle for bronze, by beating the Comoros 2-0 with a set score of 21-7 and 22-20. 

The Seychelles Investment Board (SIB) has confirmed that the tender process for Zone B in the Victoria Waterfront project will be relaunched following some objections put forward through the appeal process. The SIB chief executive, Anne Rosette, said that the appeal process was done after the selection of bidders at the beginning of March. Aimed at making Victoria, the capital, livelier, the Waterfront Development project is part of the approved Victoria Masterplan 2040 and will be carried out in the area most people know as the ex-Children's Playground. The request for proposals for the project was launched in October 2023 and the successful bidders include one for Zone A, 11 for Zone B, four for Zone C, and five for Zone D. Zone B comprises three plots of land to be developed for activities and entertainment and four applicants appealed the selection. «Out of the four appeals, two appeals stated that there were issues with the way submissions for bidding were done. When we launched the bidding, we said that submissions could be done in two ways; by email or physically through the National Tender Board (NTB). The Investment Appeal Panel concluded that this process was done in a way that was not in the interest of the bidders and that it could cause confusion. We were then asked to re-do the tender for Zone B,» Rosette told reporters. She expressed disappointment at the outcome of the appeal stating that this also impacts her office. «This is the first time that this has been brought forward, and we have to consider it and improve. We have a small team of only three people. This means a lot of extra work for them and this isn't the only project they are working on. We thought we had concluded this part and now we have to re-do it. We have to take the feedback on board, the panel is an independent body,» said the CEO. She said that all parties involved have been informed and regarding the legal implications, Rosette admitted that there is always a risk. «When we meet the bidders affected we will see what will happen. We have to discuss with them first,» she explained. Rosette clarified that while the three people selected had received a notice of award, the award had not been given yet, this can only be done after the appeal. Therefore, the panel's decision means that they will have to participate again. «This is the process and it is explained to everyone who participates in the tender process. It is an eventuality that can happen. This is a deficiency of the procedure that we have to address. We have to ensure that we improve upon it,» she added, Rosette said according to the procedures, since the appeal was done for Zone B, the tender process will only be relaunched for Zone B and not for the other zones.   Rosette clarified that they are only notifying the public and everyone involved regarding this situation and that details regarding the relaunching of the tender process for Zone B will be done later.  «We will restart the process after we have reviewed the procedure in place and the technicalities associated with it. We don't have a date yet, but we will keep everyone involved informed of what is happening,» she added.

Tourism Seychelles and Emirates, one of the main carriers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing tourism flows throughout the extensive network of the airline. According to Tourism Seychelles, the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, in a statement on Friday, the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. Ahmed Khoory, Emirates' senior vice president of commercial for West Asia and the Indian Ocean, and Sherin Francis, principal secretary of the Tourism Department signed the agreement. Francis said, «The renewal of the partnership is a testament of our shared vision and commitment to continuously work together to promote the destination and further develop the route. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Emirates for its continuous support.» Commenting on the airline's commitment to promoting Seychelles to its customer base, Ahmed Khoory said it is a key leisure destination in its network that has been operating since 2005. «Our partnership aimed at promoting tourism to the nation goes back to 2013, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting its tourism industry. Seychelles is a tourist destination that is highly popular amongst travellers from key markets in our network, and we are proud to play a role in driving traffic flows to the island through our efforts,» he added. At the event, Seychelles' Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, highlighted Emirates' crucial role as a key ally, noting its significant market share in the industry. He thanked Emirates for its enduring partnership, recognising its positive impact on Seychelles' visibility and accessibility. The minister also expressed excitement for future collaborations, aiming to use Emirates' expertise to boost Seychelles' global tourism reputation. «Emirates' presence enables us to showcase Seychelles' unparalleled beauty, rich culture, and diverse attractions to a vast international audience. Simultaneously, their operations facilitate the influx of visitors, contributing to the growth and prosperity of our tourism sector. As we reflect on the partnership with Emirates, we recognise the invaluable impact it has had on our destination's visibility and accessibility. We are delighted with the renewal of this agreement,» he added. Emirates has reiterated its unwavering support for Tourism Seychelles and aims to bolster the island nation's endeavours in promoting tourism and trade. The agreement sets forth a range of mutually beneficial initiatives aimed at enhancing trade and tourism, including participation in trade shows, familiarisation trips, exhibitions, and workshops. Emirates has committed to assisting travel agents and tour operators in key strategic markets, empowering them to promote Seychelles as a premier leisure destination. This commitment entails the development of tailored holiday packages, provision of incentives, marketing support, and organisation of familiarisation trips aimed at showcasing Seychelles' allure to a global clientele. With only a 4-hour flight from Dubai to Seychelles, Emirates provides seamless connectivity to this idyllic Indian Ocean destination twice daily. 

The owners of Denis Island in Seychelles and conservationists are finalising the consultation phase of its Marine Sustainable Use Area Management plan and members of the public are invited to make comments until May 12.   The island has a luxury eco-retreat called Denis Private Island, owned by the Seychellois Mason family. The general manager of Green Island Foundation (GIF), a not-for-profit organisation, Wilna Accouche, told SNA that this is part of the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan Initiative. The SMSP is an initiative approved in October 2020 focused on planning for and managing the sustainable and long-term use and health of the Seychelles' ocean. It covers the  1.4 million square kilometres of Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)  and is expected to support the island nation's  Blue Economy. The SMSP also includes the demarcation of more than 410,000 square kilometres which amounts to 30 percent of Seychelles' ocean as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). There are 13 MPAs divided into Zone 1 - High Biodiversity Protection Areas where almost no extractive human activities are allowed. Zone 2 is Medium Biodiversity Protection and Sustainable Use Areas designed to conserve natural ecosystems while allowing some economic activities, including fishing, tourism charters, renewable energy, and others. Significant new conditions will regulate businesses operating in these areas. Denis Island falls under Zone 2 with five others, the Amirantes group to Fortune Bank, the Cosmoledo as Astove atolls, the Farquhar group, and Desroches and Poivre atolls.   The Denis Island Sustainable Use Area is approximately 29 square kilometres and encompasses a distance of 2 km long around the island  Accouche said, «These zones consist of 15 percent of Seychelles EEZ and Territorial Sea and have been chosen for medium marine conservation and biodiversity goals, for representative habitats and species they harbour. These areas are also suitable for some level of extraction and seabed alteration, with appropriate management direction, depending on the objective of each designated area.» She added that GIF has worked with Bee Ecological Consulting, the University of Seychelles and Denis Private Island Company to conduct baseline work necessary; for the drafting of a management plan for the sustainable use area with financial support from Seychelles Conservation and Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT). The Denis Island Sustainable Use Area is approximately 29 square kilometres and encompasses a distance of 2 km long around the island up to the high-water mark and Acclouche said, «This area is rich in marine biodiversity with perhaps the most important green turtle population in inner Seychelles. There are also fishing activities that are conducted within this zone.» The plan will guide the managers, stakeholders, and users on allowable activities, management strategies and actions to protect and conserve its identified values. It will provide reasonable opportunities to access and use the area for economic growth, education, recreation and scientific purposes. «The implementation of this plan is to be undertaken per other national policies, laws and obligations of international conventions. It does not supersede any existing legal framework in place and should be amended accordingly as and when necessary to follow newly enacted laws,» added Accouche. The activities to be carried out within the area will be regulated under the new Nature Reserves and Conservancy Act, of 2022. Accouche said that before the public review process, Bee Ecological Consulting and GIF consulted other stakeholders and users of the Denis Sustainable Use Area. «This included artisanal fishers, sea cucumber fishers, sports fishers, the owners and management of Denis Island, the Fishing Authority, the Ministry for Environment, and the Marine Spatial Planning team. Feedback from these partners has been incorporated. It is now the turn of the general public to view and give their feedback on the plan.» «So concerned individuals are invited to send their input through an online form. Simultaneous to this process, selected parties have been asked to send their comments. These comments will be compiled at the close of the public review window set on the 12th of May,» she added.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Thursday indicated that the UK would not follow the United States in warning Israel that it would halt sales of arms that could be used in an assault on the Gaza city of Rafah. US President Joe Biden has said Washington could cut supplies of weapons if Israel goes ahead with an attack on the city, where the UN says some 1.4 million people were sheltering. But Cameron told reporters following a speech in which he urged NATO partners to boost defence spending that there was «a very fundamental difference» between the UK and United States. «The US is a massive state supplier of weapons to Israel,» he said. «We do not have a UK government supply of weapons to Israel, we have a number of licences, and I think our defence exports to Israel are responsible for significantly less than one percent of their total. »That is a big difference.« Cameron added that UK arms sales would remain subject to »a rigorous process« so they are not complicit in any violations of international humanitarian law. He also reiterated that the UK would not support a major Israeli operation in Rafah »unless there was a very clear plan for how to protect people and save lives«. »We have not seen that plan, so in the circumstances we will not support a major operation in Rafah,« he added. Israel has already defied international objections by sending in tanks and conducting »targeted raids« in eastern Rafah, which it says is home to the last remaining battalions of Hamas militants. Cameron's comments came after he made a major address advocating for a more muscular approach to Western foreign policy. The former UK prime minister said countries need to take more assertive action to protect their interests from emerging threats, including from Russia and Iran. »We are in a battle of wills. We all must prove our adversaries wrong: Britain, and our allies and partners around the world,« he added. Cameron used the speech at the National Cyber Security Centre in central London to call for NATO countries to boost defence spending above a two percent of gross domestic product target agreed 10 years ago. He called on countries in the 32-member Western defence alliance to »out-compete, out-cooperate and out-innovate« adversaries. - 'Harder edge' - »The upcoming NATO summit must see all allies on track to deliver their pledge made in Wales in 2014 to spend two percent on defence. «And we then need to move quickly to establish 2.5 per cent as the new benchmark for all NATO allies.» Last month, UK leader Rishi Sunak announced during a visit to Poland that London would gradually boost defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030. Cameron argued that the UK needs to invest in old alliances, including the G7 of the world's richest nations and the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network with the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. But he added that Britain also needs, post-Brexit, to forge new partnerships, like the AUKUS alliance with the US and Australia. «We need to adopt a harder edge for a tougher world. If Putin's illegal invasion teaches us anything, it must be that doing too little, too late, only spurs an aggressor on,» he said. Cameron, who resigned as prime minister in 2016 after Britons voted to leave the European Union, was last November plucked from the political wilderness by Sunak to be foreign secretary. He has spent much of that time touring the globe, giving a higher profile to the UK on the world stage than in recent years, when the country's focus was on Brexit and its chaotic aftermath. © Agence France-Presse

Somalia has asked the United Nations to end its political mission that has been present in the country for more than a decade when its mandate expires in October, according to a letter seen Thursday by AFP. UNSOM was established in 2013 by the UN Security Council to support Somali authorities in the transition to democracy and the rule of law after more than 20 years of conflict between militias, Islamist groups and criminal gangs. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is still seeking to extricate Somalia from chronic instability. In the letter to the Security Council, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi requested «the termination of the mandate of the United Nations assistance mission in Somalia (UNSOM), following a thorough consideration of our strategic priorities.» Praising the mission, which «has played a crucial role in promoting peace, stability and development in our country,» he wrote that «it is now appropriate to transition to the next phase of our partnership.» «We are confident that the achievement and lessons learned during the mission's presence will continue to guide our efforts towards sustaining peace and prosperity,» he wrote. When UNSOM's mandate was renewed last October, the Security Council called on the mission to «maintain and strengthen its presence across Somalia» and expressed «serious concern» about the humanitarian situation. UN missions can only be deployed with the agreement of the host country. In Africa in particular, the UN has been facing hostility in recent years. Several countries have forced the departure of UN missions -- in Mali, for example, where MINUSMA pulled out last year. December also saw the Security Council end the political mission to Sudan at the request of authorities there. © Agence France-Presse  

Team Seychelles won another two gold medals in the girls' swimming event on Wednesday at the 2024 Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA ) Games for Zone 7, which the island nation is hosting. Angelina Smythe, holder of the 2023 Young Athlete of the Year title, clinched two gold medals to bring her tally to four gold medals in the Games taking place from May 6-11. She won the girls' 200m backstroke in 2 minutes 33.75 seconds. In second place was Andrianaivo Ony from Madagascar in 2 minutes 34.13 seconds, followed by Mauritius' Alysson Yene Teck in 2 minutes 43.06 seconds. Smythe won her 4th gold medal of the competition in the girls' 200m freestyle race in a time of 2 minutes 18.63 seconds, ahead of second-placed Miranda Razafindrandretsa of Madagascar in 2 minutes 20.01 seconds. Mauritius' Yene Teck won bronze medal in 2 minutes 21.42 seconds. Swimmer Thierry Payet won a silver medal in the boys' 200m freestyle event with a time of 2 minutes 03.20 seconds. The gold medal went to Malagasy swimmer Baritiana Andriampenomanana who finished first in 2 minutes 01.54 seconds with Matteo Tin Wan Yuen of Mauritius finishing third for a bronze medal with a time of 2 minutes 04.07 seconds.   Team Seychelles also won four additional bronze medals on the second day of the swimming competition. Amos Ferley in the boys 200m backstroke event, finishing with a time of 2 minutes 24.28 seconds. The winner of the race was Cappite Baptiste of Mauritius and in second place was Tendry Rakotobe of Madagascar.   Seychellois Nael Barreau was another bronze medallist finishing third in the girls' 200m breaststroke in 3 minutes 23.76 seconds. Eunice Ramdhum of Mauritius and Razakatiana Finaritra of Madagascar came out first and second respectively. Seychelles also won bronze medals in both the 4x100m medley relay for boys and girls. After Day Two of the swimming event at the ANOCA Games, Madagascar leads the medals standings with 16 medals - 6 gold, 9 silver, and 1 bronze. Mauritius has climbed to second place with 19 medals - 6 gold, 5 silver and 8 bronze medals while Seychelles is third with 13 medals - with 4 gold medals, 2 silver, and 7 bronze.

Israel bombarded Rafah on Wednesday as the military said ground troops conducted «targeted raids» in the southern Gaza city's east, with negotiations to halt the seven-month war underway in Cairo. Israel has defied international objections and sent tanks into Rafah, which is crowded with Palestinian civilians sheltering near the Egyptian border, seizing early Tuesday a crossing that is the main conduit for aid into the besieged territory. The White House condemned the interruption to humanitarian deliveries, with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin later confirming reports that Washington had paused a shipment of bombs last week after Israel failed to address concerns over its long-threatened Rafah operation. The Israeli military said Wednesday it was reopening another major aid crossing into Gaza, Kerem Shalom, as well as the Erez crossing. But the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said the Kerem Shalom crossing -- which Israel shut after a rocket attack killed four soldiers on Sunday -- remained closed. Late Wednesday, the army said a soldier was lightly wounded when Kerem Shalom was again targeted by rockets. It came after a night of heavy Israeli strikes and shelling across Gaza. AFPTV footage showed Palestinians scrambling in the dark to pull survivors, bloodied and caked in dust, out from under the rubble of a Rafah building. «We are living in Rafah in extreme fear and endless anxiety,» said Muhanad Ahmad Qishta, 29. «Places the Israeli army claims to be safe are also being bombed,» he told AFP. Displaced Gazan Marwan al-Masri, 35, said «the streets are empty» in Rafah's western areas, and «life has completely ceased». In devastated northern Gaza, Al-Ahli hospital said it received the bodies of seven family members killed in a strike on an apartment in Gaza City. The Israeli military said in a statement that its «troops are conducting targeted raids on the Gazan side of Rafah crossing in the eastern part of Rafah». A later statement said that Hamas naval commander Mohammed Ahmed Ali was killed in an air strike «in the past day». Hamas did not immediately comment. - 'Catastrophic' - An emergency doctor working in Rafah and nearby Khan Yunis said that with humanitarian access compromised, the health situation was «catastrophic». «The smell of sewage is rife everywhere,» said the doctor, James Smith. «It's been getting worse over the course of the last couple of days.» World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that hospitals in southern Gaza had only «three days of fuel left» because of the border closures. «Without fuel all humanitarian operations will stop.» Meanwhile the Hamas-run government media office said health workers had uncovered at least 49 bodies from Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital, the territory's largest which was devastated by two weeks of fighting in March. The bodies were in «a third mass grave», where some 30 corpses were found last month, said Motassem Salah, head of the hospital's emergency department. There was no immediate comment from Israel, which accuses Hamas militants of operating out of hospitals -- a charge denied by the Palestinian group. The war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel in response vowed to crush Hamas and launched a military offensive that has killed at least 34,844 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Militants also took about 250 hostages. Israel estimates 128 of them remain in Gaza including 36 who officials say are dead. Talks involving Qatari, US and Hamas delegations aimed at agreeing a ceasefire were ongoing Wednesday in Cairo, said Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian intelligence. It note that there were «points of contention» during the discussions, but also reported some «convergence» without elaborating. A senior Hamas official said the latest round of negotiations would be «decisive». Hamas «insists on the rightful demands of its people» said the official on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the negotiations. In Jerusalem, CIA director Bill Burns met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the «possibility of Israel pausing the operation in Rafah in exchange for hostage releases», an Israeli official said also on condition of anonymity. The Hamas official had previously warned the talks would be Israel's «last chance» to free the hostages still in militants' hands. - Incursion condemned - Qatar, which hosts Hamas leaders and has been mediating between the two sides, appealed «for urgent international action to prevent Rafah from being invaded and a crime of genocide being committed». Palestinian analyst Mkhaimar Abusada said Israel's seizure of the Rafah crossing could be an attempt to create new facts on the ground, or a bid to «sabotage the truce talks». Israel's seizure of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing came after Hamas said it had accepted a truce proposal -- one Israel said was «far» from what its own negotiators had previously agreed to. Netanyahu has described the Rafah operation as «a very important step» in denying Hamas «a passage that was essential for establishing its reign of terror». Washington's decision to hold back last week a shipment of more than 3,500 heavy-duty bombs, according to a senior US official, was the first time the Biden administration acted on a warning to Israel that US policy on Gaza would depend on how Israel treats civilians. «We paused one shipment of high-payload munitions» for Israel but have not «made a final determination on how to proceed with that shipment,» Austin told US lawmakers on Wednesday. © Agence France-Presse

Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow on Thursday, an event he hopes will rally patriotism as his forces advance in Ukraine. The May 9 parade marks the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and has become one of Russia's most important public holidays under Putin. The Russian president has repeatedly framed the current fight against Ukraine as an existential battle against «Nazism». The Kremlin leader typically uses his May 9 speech to shower his troops and army veterans with praise, as well as show off Russia's military hardware to audiences he hopes will be watching from around the world. The parade takes place on Red Square, featuring columns of Russian military equipment, including advanced missiles and air defence systems, as well as thousands of military personnel dressed in ceremonial attire. Russia often invites representatives from countries it deems «friendly» to the event, though attendance had dwindled even before it sent troops into Ukraine amid a stand-off with the West. Eight world leaders will attend Thursday's parade, Russian state-media reported this week, citing a Kremlin aide. They are the heads of five ex-Soviet countries -- Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan -- as well as the leaders of Cuba, Laos and Guinea-Bissau. In a high-profile snub, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signalled he will not attend amid a spat between the two allies, even though he was in Moscow on Wednesday evening for a regional summit. The Kremlin scheduled a summit of leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union -- a regional bloc of some ex-Soviet states -- the day before the parade. Putin will deliver this year's address buoyed by his troops' advances in Ukraine and a fresh six-year mandate in office after winning elections in March devoid of opposition. Russia's army held off a much-hyped Ukrainian counter-offensive last year, and it has since made gains on the front lines as Kyiv struggles with ammunition and manpower shortages. - 'Victory' - Authorities in the capital have heightened security ahead of this year's parade, which comes amid a spate of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory. The parade, which starts at 10:00am (0700 GMT) in Moscow, is one of the largest events of the year in the Russian capital. Night-time rehearsals take place weeks in advance, swathes of central Moscow are closed off for the military traffic, and huge scaffolding and banners are erected along the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square Other parts of Russia, including the western Kursk and Pskov regions, have cancelled their parades due to security concerns. The festivities come two days after Putin vowed at a lavish inauguration on Tuesday to deliver «victory» to Russians, embarking on a record-breaking fifth term with more power than ever. Putin's 87-percent landslide victory in the presidential election was panned by most international observers and dismissed as rigged by opposition and rights groups. Putin has also upped his nuclear rhetoric, earlier this week ordering the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine. Last year Russia ditched its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and pulled out of a key arms reduction agreement with the United States. © Agence France-Presse

The top priority for the Seychelles Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD)  is to establish a disaster information management system, a tool designed to support agencies and organisations in preparing for and responding to disasters, said a top official on Wednesday. Robert Ernesta, the director general of DRMD spoke to reporters at the second regional workshop of a Regional Cooperation Mechanism on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for the Indian Ocean region that took place in Seychelles from May 7 to May 8. «Our priority area in Seychelles at the moment is having a detection mechanism that not only alerts people of possible disasters and floods but also the extent of the damage such a disaster is expected to cause when it is happening,» said Ernesta. The workshop was organised by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), in collaboration with its partners, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the European Union and the Indian Ocean Regional Response Platform (PIROI). The meeting was to discuss ways to mitigate and manage disasters in the IOC countries. Building resilience and reducing disaster risk is one of the main thrusts of the IOC's new Strategic Development Plan 2023-2033, given the region's growing vulnerability to climate change. The participating countries were Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles. During the second meeting, following one held in Mauritius last year, it was determined that there was a need to create a mechanism and a community under the aegis of the IOC that would enable ongoing exchanges between member states on DRR. The participants including Seychelles had the chance to present their top priorities in the field as well as discuss the manner through which they may assist one another. Ernesta said, «All the work we do where risk and disaster management is concerned in Seychelles is done with the assistance of our partner countries.»   He added, «Here in Seychelles the main disaster we deal with is flooding, as has been the case recently.» At the end of the meeting, the IOC countries are expected to be well on the path of establishing regional and sub-regional cooperation initiatives in DRR to better identify possible synergies with the IOC DRR platform initiative as well as determine concrete work plans for 2024. The delegates also had the chance to conduct a site visit.

Ukraine said Tuesday it had unravelled a Russian plot to assassinate senior Ukrainian political and military figures, including President Volodymyr Zelensky. Two Ukrainian security officials were arrested for their links to the group, which had aimed to carry out high-profile killings ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration on Tuesday. «The terrorist attack, which was supposed to be a gift to Putin for his inauguration, was in fact a failure of the Russian secret service,» Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said in a statement. Kyiv says Zelensky has been targeted by Russia on multiple earlier occasions, including at the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022. The SBU said it had exposed a network of agents set up by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) tasked with identifying individuals close to Zelensky's security detail who could take the Ukrainian leader hostage and kill him. «The network, whose activities were supervised by the FSB from Moscow, included two colonels of the State Department of Protection who were leaking classified information to Russia,» the SBU said. Ukraine's State Department of Protection is in charge protecting the president and other senior officials and their families. A source in Ukrainian law enforcement told AFP that the suspects were detained «a few days ago». «They were really highly placed men. One of them was a head of department,» the source said. - 'Five or six' attempts - The SBU published photos of masked operatives in camouflage uniform arresting several suspects at night. In a video posted on the SBU's website, a man with his face blurred said his task was to «test the mood» among the presidential office's security guards, and select someone ready to detain the president, possibly as he went to give his nightly broadcast. The SBU said Russia also planned to eliminate Maliuk, as well as the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov and other officials. Budanov was due to be assassinated before Orthodox Easter, which fell last weekend, the SBU said. The service's spokesman Artem Dekhtyarenko said the assassin had been promised a reward of up to $80,000. It published video footage purportedly of an FSB handler telling an agent to surveil a house linked to a target, apparently Budanov, and text when he arrived. «You'll most likely hear a loud blast,» the man says, telling the agent to then use a drone to carry out a secondary strike. The SBU published what it said were phone messages between a FSB handler and a colonel in the Ukrainian State Department of Protection, who it said personally brought drones, rounds and anti-personnel mines to Kyiv. It also gave names of three men it said were FSB handlers working with Ukrainian moles. Those detained are suspected of treason and preparing a «terrorist act», punishable by life in prison. Zelensky told The Sun in November that he had survived at least five or six assassination attempts. Polish and Ukrainian prosecutors announced last month they had detained a man suspected of aiding a Russian plot to assassinate Zelensky. And the SBU said last August that a woman had been arrested for over a plot to kill the Ukrainian leader by trying to uncover details of his movements outside Kyiv. © Agence France-Presse

Rescue workers reported on Tuesday making contact with 11 people under the rubble in a race to save dozens still unaccounted for after a building collapsed in the South African city of George killing at least seven. Thirty-three people have been pulled out of the debris of the five-storey apartment block, which caved in Monday afternoon while under construction, municipal authorities said. Seven of those have died, the authorities said in George, 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of Cape Town. Forty-two people were still unaccounted for, including the 11 with whom contact had been established, the authorities said. With the second night of rescue work underway, emergency services personnel surrounded a hole where a survivor was pulled out of the rubble and put onto a stretcher, an AFP correspondent saw. As they emerged, slight cheers of relief were heard. Another body was retrieved and wrapped in a blanket. Crowds of onlookers stood behind the barricade tape. «We are in contact with 11 people» trapped under rubble, Colin Deiner, head of rescue operations, had told reporters. Life had been detected under three areas of the site. - 17 hours work to rescue one survivor - On the sidelines of the site, Deiner told AFP it was a «long, involved operation with so many complexities» and an «extensive search with dogs, with systemic equipment» required. He added it took rescue personnel 17 hours to bring one of the victims out of the rubble after they were initially located. Recalling that the international standard for such operations is three days, George mayor Leon van Wyk told a local television station in the early evening that «over the next 40-odd hours we are hoping to rescue as many people» as operations entered a second day. The main focus is to get everyone out, Deiner said. «Once we have got all the people that we know about out, we are going to start a process called delayering,» he added. «We would then start lifting the different floors off each other,» he said, adding it would be «tricky» to remove the concrete trapping the building workers. A construction crew of 75 people was on site at the time of the collapse at around 2:00 pm local time (1200 GMT) on Monday, authorities said. Three rescue teams were working on three different areas of the collapsed building, which included an underground car park. The reasons for the collapse were still unknown. The construction plans for a 42-unit apartment block had been approved by the city in July. President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his «deep condolences to the relatives and friends» and said his thoughts were with the families of the dead and missing. He called for an investigation, saying it must «bring closure to the community and prevent a repeat of this disaster». George, which has a population of about 160,000, is a picturesque coastal city located on the tourist trail along South Africa's southern coastline. - Diggers, sniffer dogs - Photos shared by the city council showed a flattened construction site with emergency services on the ground. The broken roof of the building was still clearly visible atop the pile of rubble. Rescue operations had continued throughout Monday night with floodlights illuminating the cordoned-off site. A coordination post was set up to run the operations, which involve numerous emergency services and over 200 personnel. More diggers and sniffer dogs were dispatched from Cape Town, emergency services said. Officials said relatives of those trapped had been asked to gather at the city hall near the construction site, where they would be taken care of. Religious leader and social workers were present to assist and comfort emotional families. Men, women and children sang and prayed at the city hall as they awaited news on their loved ones, an AFP correspondent saw. One pastor told AFP they were offering «spiritual support» to those affected by a tragedy. «Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected, who continue to wait for word of their loved ones,» van Wyk said. George is run by the Democratic Alliance, the leading opposition party, which also controls the Western Cape province. © Agence France-Presse