Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged on Thursday more than $50 billion in financing for Africa over the next three years, promising to deepen cooperation in infrastructure and trade with the continent as he addressed Beijing's biggest summit since the Covid pandemic. More than 50 African leaders and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are attending the China-Africa forum, according to state media. African leaders already secured a plethora of deals this week for greater cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, mining, trade and energy. Xi hailed ties with Africa as their «best period in history» as he addressed the leaders at the forum's opening ceremony in Beijing's ornate Great Hall of the People on Thursday. «China is ready to deepen cooperation with African countries in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment,» he said. «Over the next three years, the Chinese government is willing to provide financial support amounting to 360 billion yuan ($50.7 billion),» Xi said. More than half of that will be in credit, he said, with $11 billion «in various types of assistance» as well as $10 billion through encouraging Chinese firms to invest. He also promised to help «create at least one million jobs for Africa». Xi pledged $141 million in grants for military assistance, saying Beijing would «provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa». Guterres told the forum that growing ties between China and Africa could «drive the renewable energy revolution». «China's remarkable record of development -- including on eradicating poverty -– provides a wealth of experience and expertise,» he said. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi hailed the summit as a «complete success» at a joint news conference with his Senegalese and Congolese counterparts later on Thursday. «When China stands shoulder to shoulder alongside (its) African strategic partners, we will inevitably play a greater role in promoting prosperity for the peoples of China and Africa, and in upholding global peace and stability,» Wang said. Congo's Jean-Claude Gakosso described China-Africa relations as «exceptional». South African President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded China's $50 billion pledge as a «great boon» for Africa. - Deals and pledges - China, the world's number two economy, is Africa's largest trading partner and has sought to tap the continent's vast troves of natural resources including copper, gold, lithium and rare earth minerals. It has also furnished African countries with billions in loans that have helped build much-needed infrastructure but have sometimes stoked controversy by saddling governments with huge debts. Analysts say that Beijing's largesse towards Africa is being recalibrated in the face of economic trouble at home and that geopolitical concerns over a growing tussle with the United States may increasingly be driving policy. Bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the summit delivered a slew of pledges on greater cooperation in projects from railways to solar panels and avocados. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said after meetings on Wednesday he had overseen a deal between his country's state-owned power company ZESCO and Beijing's PowerChina to expand the use of rooftop solar panels. China and Nigeria -- one of Beijing's biggest debtors in Africa -- signed an agreement to «deepen cooperation» in infrastructure, including «transportation, ports and free trade zones». - Expanding transport links - Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan obtained a commitment from Xi to push for new progress on a long-stalled railway connecting his country to neighbouring Zambia. That project -- towards which Zambian media says Beijing has pledged $1 billion -- is aimed at expanding transport links in the resource-rich eastern part of the continent. Zimbabwe also won promises from Beijing for deeper cooperation in «agriculture, mining, environmentally friendly traditional and new energy (and) transportation infrastructure», according to a joint statement. The southern African nation and Beijing also agreed to sign a deal that would allow the export of fresh Zimbabwean avocados to China, it said. Kenyan leader William Ruto said Xi had also promised to open up China's markets to agricultural products from his country. The two sides agreed to work together on the expansion of Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway, which connects the capital Nairobi with the port city of Mombasa and was built with finance from Exim Bank of China. Ruto also secured a pledge for greater cooperation with China on the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba motorway, which Kenyan media has said is expected to cost $1.2 billion. Ruto asked China last year for a $1 billion loan and the restructuring of existing debt to complete other stalled construction projects. Kenya now owes China more than $8 billion. © Agence France-Presse

Outrage and sorrow greeted the death on Thursday of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, who succumbed to severe burns after being doused with petrol and set on fire by her boyfriend. It was the latest horrific act of gender-based violence in the East African country, where activists have warned of a rising femicide epidemic. Cheptegei's death has been described as «senseless» and «a despicable crime». The 33-year-old long distance runner died at about 5:30 am (0230 GMT), the doctor treating her at a hospital in Eldoret in western Kenya told reporters. «Her injuries were extensive and covered most parts of her body. It led to multiple organ failure,» said Kimani Mbugua, head of the intensive care unit at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. «We tried our best but we did not succeed. Looking at her age and the over 80 percent burns she suffered, the hope of recovery was slim.» Police have said the man who carried out the attack in her home in Endebess in the western county of Trans-Nzoia was a Kenyan man identified as Cheptegei's partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach. Kenyan media reports said her two young daughters had witnessed the brutal assault. It took place just weeks after Cheptegei had made her Olympic debut in the women's marathon at the Paris Games, where she finished in 44th. Marangach was also injured in the incident, sustaining 30 percent burns. His current condition is not known. - 'Vicious attack' - The attack on Cheptegei made global headlines and has been widely condemned by the athletics community and women's rights groups. Kenyan Sports Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said it was a «stark reminder» that more must be done to combat gender-based violence. The Paris Olympics organisers voiced their «profound indignation and sadness» at her death. «This despicable crime reminds us of the alarming reality of violence affecting too many women in society.» Uganda Olympic Committee chief Donald Rukare described it as a «vicious attack by her boyfriend». «This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.» The Kenya National Olympic Committee also described her death as a «profound loss». «Rebecca's talent and perseverance as Uganda's Women's Marathon record holder and a Paris 2024 Olympian will always be remembered and celebrated.» Police said Marangach had sneaked into Cheptegei's home near the border with Uganda on Sunday afternoon while she was at church with her two children. A police report said they were a couple who «constantly had family wrangles». Her father Joseph Cheptegei has called for justice for his daughter. He told reporters Thursday that the property where she lived with her sister and daughters was the source of the problems between the pair. He had told Kenyan media earlier this week that Marangach had bought five litres of petrol and hid out in a chicken coop before the attack. «He poured the petrol and lit her on fire. When she called her sister to help, he threatened her with a machete and she ran away.» - 'I cried for help' - Kenya's The Standard newspaper reported that Cheptegei's daughters, aged nine and 11, had witnessed the assault. «He kicked me while I tried to run to the rescue of my mother,» it reported one of the girls as saying. «I immediately cried out for help, attracting a neighbour who tried to extinguish the flames with water, but it was not possible.» The attack has again thrown a spotlight on domestic violence in Kenya. In October 2021, record-breaking Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop, 25, was found stabbed to death at her home in the renowned Rift Valley running hub of Iten in a killing that shocked Kenya and the world of athletics. Her estranged husband is on trial over her murder and has denied the charges. In April 2022, Kenyan-born Bahrainian athlete Damaris Mutua was also found dead in Iten. Her partner is suspected of the killing. Joan Chelimo, athlete and cofounder of Tirop's Angels, a group set up to combat gender-based violence after Tirop's death, said on Instagram she was «deeply shaken and outraged» by the attack on Cheptegei. «This senseless violence must end.» Latest figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics published in January 2023 found that 34 percent of women had experienced physical violence since the age of 15. In 2022 alone, Kenya recorded 725 femicide cases, according to a UN report, the highest number since data collection began in 2015. © Agence France-Presse

Organisers of this year's edition of the All African Artistic Dance Championship have expressed satisfaction at the large number of Seychellois dancers participating in the event this month. The World Artistic Dance Federation (WADF) is organising the event in collaboration with the Seychelles National Institute of Culture Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA), the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), the School of Dance, and the National Arts and Crafts Council (NACC). In a press conference on Thursday, the organisers revealed that around 200 Seychellois dancers will join 33 of their international counterparts for the All African Artistic Dance Championship scheduled for September 13 to 15 at Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay. In addition to dancers from Seychelles, there will also be representatives from South Africa, Italy, Russia and Serbia. WADF ambassador, Mpho Kgatla, told the press, «The mistake last year was that we did not focus as much on the local dancers, but this year we have and we have an impressive turnout as a result.» WADF is a non-profit worldwide dance organisation with over 100 years of experience in dance, which also gives non-professional dancers a platform. The dance competition will take place on Saturday, September 14 from 11 am until late while on Sunday 14 the dancers will compete from 11 am to 6 pm. «We will finish a bit earlier on Sunday as the kids have to prepare to go back to school on Monday,» said Kgatla. During the action-packed two days, the dancers have seven categories they will compete in including Ballroom dances, hip-hop and Seychelles' traditional dances. The principal secretary for culture, Cecile Kalebi, said her department fully supports the event once the local dancers register for the competition as this will open doors for them on the international scene. In addition to the dance-offs, judges in the event, which will include 10 Seychellois and eight internationals, will attend a seminar on Friday, September 13, to cover the criteria of the competition as well as how to judge the dancers. Winners in the competition will win trophies, medals and receive certificates as well. Meanwhile, the organisers will also hold a workshop once the competition is over to determine how well the event went. 

A group of young Seychellois basketball players are participating in four days of training with two experienced former players of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in the U.S.    The Basketball Clinic, which was officially launched on Monday at the Victoria Gymnasium, is part of a collaboration between the United States, the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), and the Department of Youth and Sports. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the principal secretary for Sports, Ralph Jean-Louis, said this programme is in line with the goal of the Ministry for Family, Youth and Sports, to use sports as a mechanism for motivating youth to combat social ills. «I wish everyone a very exciting week, where you will share experiences and learn as much for your development in this sport,» he added.   The American Ambassador to Seychelles, Henry Jardin, was present for the opening of the training and shared his excitement to launch this initiative in Seychelles. «Sports is really one of the ways that brings people together and we are really excited to have such great sports envoys with great personal careers, experiences, and stories that they will be sharing with you throughout this coming week,» said the ambassador. Young basketball players are taking part in the four-day training. (Seychelles News Agency)  Photo License: CC-BY  The two former WNBA players who will be coaching the youth are Shay Murphy and Natosha Cummings-Price. Murphy is a former assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and also played for the San Antonio Stars, Phoenix Mercury, and the Chicago Sky, why Cummings-Price is a former coach of the Cameroon women's national basketball team. «As a collegiate basketball coach in the U.S., I am hoping to be able to bring some of the Seychelles talent to the United States, but also to teach young players that despite your social background, it doesn't define your future and where you want to go in life,» said Cummings-Price. Murphy said, «We hope that this is a long term partnership where we will want to see Seychellois players in the WNBA and the NBA and even attain scholarships to put Seychelles on the map as well.» The chief executive of the SNYC, Albert Duncan, said that through partnership they decided to begin with a popular sport and eventually move to other areas. «In our discussions, we saw that there is not much interest in women's basketball in Seychelles, where there are not many women's basketball teams and we hope that these two coaches can inspire more girls to join the sport,» added Duncan. 

Russia struck the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Wednesday, killing seven people and damaging historical buildings in a rare attack hundreds of kilometres from the frontline. The strike came as several Ukrainian ministers, including top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba, offered their resignations, part of a major reshuffle President Volodymyr Zelensky said would bring «new energy» to government. Russia has stepped up its aerial attacks on Ukraine since Kyiv launched an unprecedented cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk region last month. «In total, seven people died in Lviv, including three children. The search and rescue operation is ongoing,» Interior Minister Igor Klymenko wrote on Telegram. The missile attack also wounded 40 people, damaging schools and medical facilities as well as buildings in Lviv's historic centre, according to the office of Ukraine's prosecutor general. The western city near the Polish border is home to a UNESCO world heritage site that covers its old town. It has been largely spared the intense strikes that have rocked cities further east. But at least seven «architectural objects of local importance were damaged» in Wednesday's barrage, regional head Maksym Kozytsky said. The assault on Lviv, which is sheltering thousands displaced by over two years of war, came a day after a Russian strike on the central city of Poltava killed 53 people, one of the deadliest single strikes of the invasion. The overnight attacks triggered renewed appeals from Ukraine for Western air defences, as well as long-range weapons to retaliate by striking targets deep inside Russia. - 'Inhuman screams' - «I heard terrible inhuman screams saying 'Save us,'» said Yelyzaveta, a 27-year-old resident of Lviv who rushed to shelter in her basement. Others like Anastasia Grynko, an internally displaced person from Dnipro, did not have time to reach a shelter. «The rocket hit our house. Everything was blown away. At the time of the explosion, I was somehow miraculously in the corridor, so I was not badly hurt,» she said. Zelensky denounced what he called «Russian terrorist strikes on Ukrainian cities». The attack on Lviv was part of a wider barrage on Ukraine, with 13 missiles and 29 drones launched at the war-torn country, the air force said. The air force said it downed seven missiles and 22 drones. Wreckage of a downed missile fell on the central city of Kryvyi Rig, Ukrainian emergency services said, damaging the Arena hotel and wounding five people. «The hotel is destroyed from the first to the third floor. Thank God, everyone is alive,» the city's head Oleksandr Vilkul said. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal called for more air defence and for long-range weapons to strike Russia in the wake of the attack. The weapons delivered by Ukraine's Western partners since the invasion often come with restrictions prohibiting their use against most targets located inside Russia. The overnight attack took place the day after a Russian strike on a military education institute in Poltava killed 53 people and wounded 271 -- though authorities did not say how many of the victims were military or civilians. - Russia advances - Russia also said it was pressing on with its offensive in the country's east, claiming the capture of the village of Karlivka, the latest in a string of territorial gains. Karlivka is about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Pokrovsk, a major Russian target that lies on a key supply route for the Ukrainian army. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday his army was making rapid advances in the Donbas that covers the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. «We have not had such a pace of offensive in the Donbas for a long time,» he said. Ukraine was also on Wednesday in the midst of a major government reshuffle, as Zelensky seeks to boost confidence in the government two and a half years into Russia's invasion. Ukraine's wartime Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba submitted his resignation on Wednesday, a day after six other officials including cabinet ministers said they were stepping down. «We need new energy. And these steps are related to strengthening our state in various areas,» Zelensky told journalists when asked about the changes. Ukraine's parliament approved some of the resignations in a session Wednesday, with Kuleba's expected to be voted on later in the week. A source close to the presidential office told AFP that Zelensky and Kuleba «will discuss and decide» his future post. In a separate attack on Wednesday, Ukrainian shelling killed three people in occupied east Ukraine, according to the Russian-installed Donetsk region governor Denis Pushilin. © Agence France-Presse

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted more than two dozen African leaders at a banquet in Beijing on Wednesday, kicking off the city's biggest summit in years with promises of cooperation in infrastructure, energy and education. China, the world's number two economy, is Africa's largest trading partner and has sought to tap the continent's vast troves of natural resources including copper, gold, lithium and rare earth minerals. It has also furnished African countries with billions in loans that have helped build much-needed infrastructure but also sometimes stoked controversy by saddling governments with huge debts. Twenty-five African leaders have arrived in Beijing or confirmed attendance at this week's China-Africa forum, according to an AFP tally, including some whose countries face a rising risk of debt distress. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan welcomed guests as they arrived for a lavish dinner at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday evening, live AFP footage showed. There was also a «family» photo of the gathered leaders and Xi will give a speech at an opening ceremony on Thursday morning. Chinese state media has lauded Xi this week as a «true friend of Africa», claiming Beijing's ties were reaching «new heights» under his stewardship. The Chinese leader had held talks with more than a dozen African counterparts in Beijing by Wednesday, a tally of state media reporting showed. Xi called during a meeting on Tuesday with President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria -- one of China's biggest borrowers on the continent -- for great cooperation in the «development of infrastructure, energy and mineral resources», state news agency Xinhua said. He also promised cooperation in «investment, trade, infrastructure, mineral resources» and other areas during talks on the same day with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Xi backed Zimbabwe in its struggle against «illegal sanctions» imposed by the United States in response to corruption and human rights abuses by the country's leadership. - Geopolitical concerns - Analysts say that Beijing's largesse towards Africa is being recalibrated in the face of economic trouble at home and that geopolitical concerns over a growing tussle with the United States may increasingly be driving policy. «Deepening economic engagement with Africa across the board» is one of Beijing's key goals this week, Zainab Usman, director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told AFP. «In specific areas, even where such an expanded engagement may not make economic sense, it will be driven by geopolitical reasons,» she said. One goal may be narrowing the growing trade imbalance between China and Africa through increasing imports of agricultural goods and processed minerals, Usman said. «Meeting these African demands is in China's geopolitical interest to keep them onside in the tussle with the US.» For their part, African leaders are likely to seek backing for big-ticket items, as they have in the past, but also place greater emphasis on debt sustainability, analysts say. Recent deadly protests in Kenya were triggered by the government's need «to service its debt burden to international creditors, including China», said Alex Vines, head of the Africa Programme at London's Chatham House. Vines and other analysts expect African leaders at this week's forum to seek not only more Chinese investment but also more favourable loans in light of such events. © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles' financial system remains stable, although various risk factors could impact it in the remaining months of the year, according to the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS).   This follows two meetings of the Financial Stability Committee on August 12 and 20 to discuss matters that could potentially impact the country's financial stability observed during the second quarter of 2024. According to Nadine Boniface, the financial stability analyst at CBS, «This is as a result of the conflicts and geo-political tensions, as well as discord between countries in relation to global commerce.» Boniface said, «Since the inflation rate is expected to remain high, that also means that interest rates will likely remain high for a longer time and create some uncertainty about monetary policies.» In regards to local development, a reduction in tourism arrival has also had its impact and the CBS governor, Caroline Abel explained that as a consequence of a reduction in economic activities, it creates some uncertainty around the repayment of loans from bank clients. «This creates a financial problem for the banks, the CBS, and the Financial Stability Committee in general, where we have to ask if the financial system will remain resilient enough to continue its function if the economy does not perform on the level that it is supposed to,» she added. Tourism is the top contributor to the economy of Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. Another issue that could affect the local financial system is the fact that there has been a bond default during the second quarter of 2024, where the issuer of the bond has been unable to grant the bondholders a return on their investment. Virginie Quatre, director of Capital Markets and Collective Investment Scheme Supervision Section in the Financial Services Authority (FSA), said, «This has numerous implications, including legal, as well as creating some uncertainty for the investors, who are not getting a return on their investment and interests.» Abel reiterated that Seychelles needs to remain vigilant and keep a keen eye on the various issues going on in the world to ensure that the financial sector can react quickly to anything that happens. This is to reduce its impact on the government and members of the general public. 

American navy vessel, USS Hershel «Woody» Williams, currently in Seychelles' Port Victoria as part of a routine port visit for the ship to conduct logistical and personnel support operations, opened its doors to defence personnel and local media on Tuesday. This is the ship's first visit to Seychelles since July 2022 and Commander Michael Concannon explained that this forms part of efforts «to make people better understand their capabilities and look for ways to enhance our cooperative efforts in Seychelles to increase peace, stability and freedom of shipping and commerce in the region.»  Also touring the vessel was the American ambassador to Seychelles and Mauritius, Henry Jardine, who said, «We had a very good very informative briefing on this vessel and what it can do, and it's a wonderful platform for that maritime domain awareness.» USS Hershel «Woody» Williams is the first navy ship assigned to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of operations to conduct missions in the Mediterranean and the waters around East, South, and West Africa including the Gulf of Guinea. The vessel opened its doors to defence personnel and local media on Tuesday. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY  The vessel's visit to port Victoria comes a little after a year that the U.S. re-opened its embassy in the archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. «It is a wonderful opportunity to highlight how the United States is very much committed to supporting Seychelles in the work it does here in support of maritime domain awareness,» said Jardine. In March, the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the U.S. Coast Guard completed a second bilateral operation within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Seychelles under an agreement signed between the two countries in July 2021. The bilateral agreement between the two countries came about after both saw the need to promote greater cooperation in dealing with illicit transnational maritime activities. It was the first of its kind between the two countries and the first one between the U.S. and an eastern African country. Jardine also expressed his satisfaction that Seychelles is part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a U.S.-led military operation by a multinational coalition formed in December 2023 to respond to Houthi-led attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. He said this shows that Seychelles is «recognising the impacts these have on shipping and is much affected by intra-dictions and threats in the Red Sea because it impacts on shipping which then has a higher cost on goods and commodities for the average Seychellois.» Seychelles has a vast Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.4 million square metres and Jardine said, «It is important for it to work with many partners - and does work very effectively with many partners and we feel very privileged that we have a chance to work with Seychelles.» Brigadier Michael Rosette, Seychelles' Chief of Defence Forces, said, «Seychelles is a great partner with the U.S. in the fight against any illicit activities in the Indian Ocean and of course, any of these activities have an effect or an indirect effect on Seychelles.» Rosette added that the best way to go forward to ensure commerce and trade continues in the Indian Ocean is to «have to work with our friendly partners in the Indian Ocean and we will continue to share intel and other activities that are ongoing with the U.S. so that we ensure that this area remains safe for us to continue.» The USS Hershel «Woody» Williams' namesake was born in 1923 in Quiet Dell, West Virginia, and is the sole surviving Marine from World War II to wear the Medal of Honour. 

A rescue mission was underway Monday for an oil tanker still ablaze after being attacked by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen last month, according to US Central Command. The Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion was hit by the Huthis off the coast of Hodeida on August 21 while carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil. In a post on X, CENTCOM said «salvage efforts are underway» in the southern Red Sea for the disabled vessel, «which is still on fire and threatens the possibility of a major environmental disaster.» The Iran-backed rebels said they had booby-trapped and detonated charges on the ship. CENTCOM condemned such Huthi attacks as «reckless» and promised to «continue to work with international partners and allies» to protect trade and mitigate environmental impacts in the region. The European Union's Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, said earlier in the day that it would «provide protection to the tug boats, that will deal with the salvage operation and facilitate their efforts to prevent an environmental disaster,» according to a post on X. «Several fires continue to burn on the vessel's main deck,» the mission added, noting that there were «no visible signs of an oil spill.» The Sounion's crew, made up of 23 Filipinos and two Russians, was rescued the day after the attack by a French frigate serving with Aspides. The EU naval force was formed in February to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by the Huthi rebels, who have waged a campaign against international shipping that they say is intended to show solidarity with Palestinian group Hamas in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, two other ships were struck in attacks off the coast of Yemen on Monday. CENTCOM reported the two ships were both crude oil tankers, one flagged by Panama and the other flagged by Saudi Arabia, with the latter vessel carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil. © Agence France-Presse

An attempted jail break at the Democratic Republic of Congo's largest and chronically overcrowded prison this week has left at least 129 people dead, the interior minister said Tuesday. The circumstances around the bid to bust out of Makala prison in the capital Kinshasa in the early hours of Monday remain unclear. But Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani in a statement released by video to the media on Tuesday announced a provisional death toll of 129 people. They included «24 who were shot after warnings», he said. At least 59 others had been wounded and were receiving care, he added. Witnesses told AFP that they had heard gunfire at around 2:00 am on Monday and that it lasted for several hours in the area of the prison, a popular and residential neighbourhood. Daddi Soso, an electrician in his 40s, said he had seen security force vehicles taking bodies away in the early hours. On Monday, police had cordoned off the streets leading to the prison, AFP journalists at the scene saw. The interior minister said many people had been crushed or suffocated and that a number of women had been raped. He gave no details on their identities. - 'Under control' - The authorities have given no indication as to how many inmates escaped or attempted to do so. On Monday morning, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said only that the security services were at the scene and he called on residents to «not panic». A few hours later, he told national television the situation was «under control». Justice Minister Constant Mutamba later announced on X that inquiries were under way «to identify and severely punish the sponsors of these acts of sabotage». Makala prison, the biggest in the vast central African nation, has capacity for 1,500 inmates. But it is highly overcrowded and rights organisations regularly complain about the conditions of detention at the jail. With between 14,000 and 15,000 prisoners, it holds around 10 times the number it is meant to house, according to official statistics. As well as the human toll, the escape attempt caused damage to buildings. A part of the prison, mainly that housing the administrative offices, was set on fire, the government said. The prison was already badly damaged during an attack by armed men in 2017, which led to more than 4,000 prisoners escaping, some of them described as «dangerous» by police. The circumstances leading to that large prison escape were never made clear despite the establishment of a commission of inquiry. © Agence France-Presse

The Supreme Court of Seychelles on Monday ruled that the former Chief of the Defence Forces, Brigadier Leopold Payet, has no case to answer in the illegal possession of firearms case involving prominent businessman Mukesh Valabjhi and his wife, lawyer Laura Valabjhi.  The case relates to the seizure of more than 100 firearms and over 35,000 rounds of ammunition from the Valabhji home at Morne Blanc on November 18, 2021. This came after the couple was arrested in relation to a case of money laundering of a missing $50 million of funds granted to the government of Seychelles by the United Arab Emirates in 2002. Currently, only Mukesh Valabhji and former First Lady Sarah Zarqani Rene are awaiting the corruption trial. Two other persons were charged by the Supreme Court in the same arms case, Leslie Benoiton – a senior officer in the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), and Frank Marie - retired lieutenant colonel and presidential chief security officer. Chief Justice Rony Govinden, who is presiding over the case, ruled that the prosecution had not built a prima facie case against Payet and that he was acting within his duties at the time. All five accused had made submissions for no case to answer stating that the court would not be able to grant them a fair trial and that continuing would offend the court's sense of justice and propriety. The accused claim there was an abuse of process, as CCTV footage of the day the house was searched at Morne Blanc was missing, a laptop also went missing from the Valabhji residence, and there was no clear line of succession when handling evidence. The Supreme Court ruled however that the prosecution had presented a prima facie case meaning they had a case to answer. In view of the recent fire at the Remand Centre at Bois de Rose, the Valabhji couple have not been able to give directives to their counsel, who are based in the UK. For this reason, Govinden has granted the couple time to confer with their legal team before taking the next step in the trial. The case has been adjourned until Thursday, September 5 at 2 pm.

Seychelles' former President Danny Faure will lead a Commonwealth Observer Group at Sri Lanka's presidential election, which will be held on September 21. According to a press release on Monday, the 14-member group was deployed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, following a pre-election assessment mission to the country and an invitation from the Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Scotland announced the group ahead of the deployment in London, saying: «Election observation work is a core strength of the Commonwealth, providing vital support to the process and institutions of democracy across our member states, in line with the principles and aspirations of our Charter.» She added, «As part of their critical work, the Commonwealth Observer Group will comprehensively assess all factors impacting the credibility of the electoral process, including the pre-election environment, voting procedures, counting and tabulation processes, as well as the post-election environment following the announcement of results. Their findings will be presented in an interim report, followed by a final report with recommendations to further help strengthen future elections.» The Commonwealth Observer Group will be in Sri Lanka from September 15 to 27 and will be supported by a seven-member staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Lindiwe Maleleka, political adviser in the Electoral Support Section of Governance and Peace Directorate. Scotland also expressed her gratitude to the chairperson, who will lead the group, and to each of the eminent experts, drawn from across the Commonwealth, who will participate in this important assignment.     The independent observer group will determine whether the election complies with Sri Lanka's electoral laws and meets relevant regional, Commonwealth, and international standards. Observers will adhere to the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, which the Commonwealth was one of the original signatories to at the United Nations in 2005, to ensure the professionalism and credibility of election observation. At the end of the assignment, the COG will submit a comprehensive report containing their observations and recommendations to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. This report will subsequently be made public and shared with the government of Sri Lanka, the Election Commission, political parties, and Commonwealth member governments.  

An Israeli labour court on Monday ordered a halt to a strike called by the country's largest union to support a deal that would secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. «We are issuing a nationwide order to forbid the strike that was launched, stating that the strike must stop today» effective immediately, the Tel Aviv Labour Court said in its ruling seen by AFP, citing the «politically motivated» nature of the strike. The court ruling came after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich -- a far-right leader who opposes a truce in the war -- called on the court to move to ban the strike. The court pointed to a statement by Histadrut union's chairman to determine the strike was not called for economic reasons. «We cannot stand by while our children are being murdered in the tunnels in Gaza,» the union's chairman Arnon Bar-David said on Sunday to explain the need for a strike. The union is authorised to call for strikes only economic reasons and workers' rights but not over political issues. The Histadrut trade union called a nationwide strike beginning at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) Monday. Mass demonstrations erupted on Sunday after the army announced troops had recovered the bodies of six hostages from Gaza. The health ministry said the six had been shot from close range by Hamas. Parts of Israel were shuttered after the strike, though several sectors were unaffected. Ben Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv saw some flights delayed, and none at all for two hours leading up to 10:00 am. Tel Aviv and the northern coastal city of Haifa heeded the strike calls, but not all municipalities slowed down or ceased their activities © Agence France-Presse

Africa faces a disproportionate burden from climate change and the costs of adapting, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a new report on Monday. The African continent has been warming at a slightly faster rate than the global average -- at about 0.3 degrees Celsius per decade between 1991 and 2023, the WMO said in its report on the state of the climate in Africa last year. North Africa experienced the most rapid warming, it said. The city of Agadir in Morocco reached a new maximum temperature of 50.4 degrees. Other countries saw extreme rainfall leading to flooding. Climate activists have long pointed out that Africa pays one of the highest prices for climate change while the continent is responsible for just a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions. The UN's COP29 climate summit, which will be hosted by Azerbaijan in November, will focus in large part on how much wealthy industrialised nations should contribute to help poorer countries adapt to climate change. «Africa faces disproportionate burdens and risks arising from climate change related weather events and patterns,» Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment at the African Union Commission, said in the WMO report. They «cause massive humanitarian crises with detrimental impacts on agriculture, and food security, education, energy, infrastructure, peace, and security, public health, water resources, and overall socio-economic development,» she said. In September and October, around 300,000 people were affected by flooding across 10 countries, with Niger, Benin, Ghana and Nigeria most heavily impacted. That came months after flooding hit Libya and parts of East Africa, the WMO, the United Nations' weather and climate agency, said. Zambia faced its worst drought in 40 years, affecting around six million people, while a string of other nations also grappled with severe drought in 2023, WMO said. «Climate extremes including floods and droughts had a major impact on food security,» the report said. African countries on average are losing two to five percent of gross domestic product and «many are diverting up to nine percent of their budgets responding to climate extremes», the WMO said. If adequate measures to respond are not implemented, by 2030 an estimated up to 118 million people who live on less than $1.90 a day will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat in Africa, it said. «This will place additional burdens on poverty alleviation efforts and significantly hamper growth,» according to the report. The UN agency highlighted the urgent need to invest in improved data collection and forecasting and early warning capabilities. «Between 1970 and 2021, Africa accounted for 35 percent of weather, climate and water-related fatalities. Yet only 40 percent of the African population has access to early warning systems –- the lowest rate of any region of the world,» the WMO said. © Agence France-Presse

An agricultural sector that is supported and functioning well plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in Seychelles and helps reduce the reliance on importation, said the Seychelles Farmers' Association chairperson. Andre Sopha, from Praslin, the second largest island of the Seychelles archipelago, has been the chairperson of the Association for six years. Sopha has been a farmer for 18 years and specialises mainly in livestock and fruits. He has served two mandates and told SNA that this will be his last and that election for the new chairperson and executive committee are expected to be held this year. The Seychelles Farmers' Association set up in the early 2000, has over 110 members from the three main islands of Seychelles, Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. Around 40 farmers are from Praslin. With the high demands for produce from the population and the tourism industry, there is a need to increase agricultural production and sustainable agriculture. Sopha said, «We have undertaken major climate adaptation projects in two educational institutions namely the Grand Anse Praslin Secondary School and the Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (SIAH). The two projects are doing very well. Both projects have been funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP).» The chairperson said that the Association has received 12 greenhouses, 10 are for farmers across the three main islands, one at Grand Anse Praslin Secondary School and the other at SIAH. The Association will also have solar water pumps and machines they can use to make value-added products for example, if farmers have excess oranges on their farms, they can use one of these machines to make a value-added product with these fruits. The Association's board will be holding a meeting to discuss which farms will benefit from these and a few elements will need to be taken into account including being up to date with their membership contribution. The equipment will not be given free of charge and those who will receive it will have to make a small contribution as well. Sopha (1st left) with the Seychelles' delegation at an international conference. (Andre Sopha) Photo License: All Rights Reserved    Challenges farmers face Sopha said, «Farms do suffer a lot during drought periods. So we hope to have a project at Amitie to help with this issue. We also face several other challenges such as a lack of resources for us to work with such as pesticides and fertilisers, which can impact our work and productivity.» He said the Association is working to ensure that there is an availability of resources for farmers to work with and one of them is land needed for farming. «Land is also an issue because we have individuals who want to start their farming business but cannot do so as plots of agricultural land are occupied by some farmers who are not being productive. We are working closely with the government to see how best we can address this issue whereby those interested in venturing into farming can do so by accessing a plot of agricultural land,» the chairperson explained. Giving knowledge and skills One of the aims of the Association is to ensure that its members are given new knowledge and skills to help them improve their businesses. «We bring in experts in respective fields to equip farmers with the latest information or skills on different elements such as fertiliser and how to measure acidity or humidity in the soil,» Sopha explained. He said the Association wants a vibrant and productive agricultural sector and that there is a need to see it as an important sector that is making a great contribution to Seychelles. Encouraging the youth to venture into agriculture To ensure that the agricultural sector remains sustainable for the years to come there is also a move to include more young people. To encourage young people to join the agricultural sector, Sopha said the Association is bringing in the use of technology in agriculture. «The world is evolving and so must agriculture. We have chosen two schools to work with because our young people are based there. At Grand Anse Praslin Secondary we have a rotavator which we have placed there for a period of time for the students to use, and have installed a new irrigation system that you only press a button and it waters the plants,» he shared.  «This is to encourage the youths not just to take up farming but to make them realise that even in agriculture there is evolution, to see that new technology exists within this sector, and the tiring ways of farming can be replaced by smart work,» he added. «We need to have good incentives and proper educational awareness on agriculture so that this young generation can take an interest in this field. So we need to find innovative ways to encourage our young people to continue developing our agricultural sector because we want to ensure food security and successful production in the future,» Sopha said. «I meet the authorities often but we need to see more actions being done and to hear the concerns of the farmers working on the ground. Farmers need to be part and parcel of decisions made which concern and heavily impact their work,» he added. 

Students from the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT) will have the opportunity to pursue career opportunities and able to earn work-based experience within hotels under the Hilton brand, through a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) The MOU was signed on Monday between the Institute and Hilton Seychelles by Vinesh Hurrychurn, senior director of engineering operations from Hilton and the Institute's director, Ferdinand Desnousse.   Through the agreement, Hilton-managed hotels in Seychelles and the SIT will collaborate in the Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET) sector, with a particular focus on engineering operations within the hospitality industry. «This agreement is huge for SIT, as students, particularly in the engineering fields will be able to gain valuable experience by working at these hotels in Seychelles, where those who perform well, could even be granted opportunities to work at other Hilton-managed hotels in the region,» said Desnousse. The agreement will see the two entities collaborate and implement educational training programmes in accordance with the curriculum provided by SIT. It will also ensure the alignment with both the Institute and international standards to facilitate the professional development of individuals in the hospitality sector. The MOU will also present opportunities to plan and conduct events, including career guidance workshops and job fairs, to improve employability within engineering operations in the hospitality sector. It will also allow the exploration of opportunities for Hilton to support SIT in creating innovative approaches to student development. According to Hilton, who manage six hotels in Seychelles, the collaboration will also encourage qualified SIT students to pursue careers in the hospitality industry by offering internships and employment opportunities at Hilton. Subject to availability, this will strengthen the students' readiness for leadership roles in engineering and implement targeted programs to promote inclusion and diversity within engineering operations in the hospitality sector. This is the first MOU of its kind to be signed with a hotel, while the SIT has agreements with other local companies, to allow students to gain work experience there. The Seychelles Institute of Technology is a technical and vocational education and training institution set up in 2015 under the aegis of the Ministry of Education. At the moment, SIT offers students programmes ranging from certificate to advanced diploma level, in areas such as mechanical engineering, telecommunications, information technology, and automotive engineering, among others.

Israel's main union on Sunday ordered a nationwide general strike after soldiers recovered the bodies of six dead hostages from the Gaza Strip where the military is battling Palestinian militants. The remains of the six were recovered Saturday «from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area» in southern Gaza, the military said. They were among 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war, 97 of whom remain captive in Gaza including 33 the army says are dead. Scores were released during a negotiated one-week truce in November, but relatives of those still held believe not enough is being done to free them. Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said a negotiated «deal for the return of the hostages» was urgently needed. «Were it not for the delays, sabotage and excuses» in months of mediation efforts, the six hostages «would likely still be alive», a statement said. The families called for a nationwide general strike to force the government to reach a deal to secure the release of the remaining captives. Shortly afterwards, the head of Israel's powerful Histadrut trade union ordered a «complete strike» for Monday in support of the hostages. - 'Complete strike' - «I have come to the conclusion that only our intervention can shake those who need to be shaken,» Histadrut chairman Arnon bar David said in a statement. «Starting tomorrow at six in the morning, the entire Israeli economy will go on complete strike.» «A deal is not progressing due to political considerations and this is unacceptable.» The six hostages were named as Carmel Gat, taken from a kibbutz community near the Gaza border, and Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, US-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Russian-Israeli Alexander Lobanov -- all seized by Palestinian militants from a music festival site. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said all six «were abducted alive on the morning of October 7» and «brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them». Qatar-based Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said the six were «killed by Zionist (Israeli) bombing», an accusation the military denied. A senior Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity that «some» of the six had been «approved» for release in a potential hostage-prisoner swap as part of a deal yet to be agreed. Critics in Israel have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political gain. Netanyahu told Lobanov's parents on Sunday: «I would like to tell you how much I regret and request forgiveness for not succeeding in bringing Sasha back alive.» He blamed Hamas leaders «who kill hostages and do not want an agreement», vowing to «settle the score» with them. - West Bank attack - US President Joe Biden said he was «devastated and outraged» by their deaths, but told reporters he was «still optimistic» a truce and hostage release deal could be reached. The Biden administration has been involved in ceasefire mediation efforts along with Qatar and Egypt. In the occupied West Bank, as soldiers pressed day five of coordinated raids targeting Palestinian militants, Israeli police said a «shooting attack» killed three officers. The attack near Hebron added to surging violence in the territory where at least 24 Palestinians, including 14 militant groups said were their members, have been killed by the military since the Israeli raids began on Wednesday. One 20-year-old soldier was killed Saturday in the raids, which Israel's military has called «counter-terrorism» operations. On Sunday, a «shooting attack» near the Tarqumiya checkpoint in the Hebron area in the southern West Bank killed three police officers. The military said it «eliminated» the suspected attacker after surrounding a house in Hebron. In the northern West Bank, an AFP photographer saw Israeli bulldozers in Jenin city centre, a day after an official said soldiers had destroyed most of the streets and power and water had been cut off in the adjacent refugee camp. Later on Sunday an AFP photographer heard loud explosions near the camp and saw black smoke over the city. The United Nations said Wednesday that at least 637 Palestinians had been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war began. Twenty-three Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during army operations over the same period, according to official figures. - Polio vaccinations - In the besieged Gaza Strip, «humanitarian pauses» in the nearly 11-month war between Israel and Hamas were due to take place to facilitate a massive polio vaccination drive which a health official told AFP had begun in earnest Sunday. Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's offensive has killed at least 40,738 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children. The fighting has devastated Gaza, repeatedly displaced most of its 2.4 million people and triggered a humanitarian crisis. Water, sanitation and medical facilities have been ravaged, contributing to the spread of preventable disease. The World Health Organization has said Israel agreed to a series of three-day «humanitarian pauses» to facilitate the vaccination campaign that aims to reach some 640,000 children, after the first confirmed case in Gaza in 25 years. On Sunday, it was formally launched at three health centres in central Gaza, said Yasser Shaaban, director of Al-Awda hospital. «We hope this vaccination campaign for children will be calm,» said Shaaban, noting there were «a lot of drones» flying overhead. Louise Wateridge, a spokeswoman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, later said nearly 2,000 children were vaccinated initially Sunday. But she added that they were anxious about later: «If the bombing continues after 2:00 pm this is of course going to impact the vaccination campaign... The only way to do this is a ceasefire.» On Sunday, rescuers in the Gaza Strip said 10 people had been killed in Israeli bombardment and an air strike. © Agence France-Presse

The works of five local artists are being shown in an «In Situ» exhibition at the National Art Gallery in its efforts to promote Seychelles' art alongside international works of art organised by the Creative Seychelles Agency (CSA) from August 23 to October 5. The Agency's executive director, Emmanuel D'Offay, told reporters, «It is essential that the National Gallery - the most important exhibition space in the country - showcases local contemporary work, but we also need to exhibit work from outside Seychelles which can inform and inspire Seychellois artists.» The term 'In Situ' is from Latin and means 'in position', is the the title of this exhibition and refers to the fact that the principal large format works, 12 in all, have been created inside the gallery, from July 22 to August 20. Kipau, Zsaklin Miklos and Jude Ally are three artists showing their work in the exhibition; all three are established names on the art scene.  The principal artworks for the exhibition were created inside the gallery. (Creative Seychelles Agency) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Ally has his artwork currently on show at the Venice Biennale, while Kipao held an exhibition at the Eden Art Space in 2022. The two have worked on a painting for this latest exhibition, in what the Agency described as a canvas using their approaches in collegiality and mutual respect. The other established artist also showing her work In Situ is Miklos - who has contributed two canvases to the exhibition. There are also budding Seychellois artists, Angela Marzorcchi and Hyara Louys, from the Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (SIAD). «Exhibiting young and emerging artists is also a priority for us, as long as the quality of the work is appropriate,» D'Offay said, explaining their inclusion in the exhibition. While those taking part in the exhibition did not have a specific theme to work with, the Agency explained that there were no restrictions other than that the works have to be pure abstractions painted onto canvas. Artists were also encouraged to use non-conventional tools to apply and manipulate the paint. «Such paintings can often evolve from a less specific concept than would be the case in, say, a portrait or landscape painting, and improvisation and experimentation have always been significant elements of the creative energy driving abstract works,» said Creative Seychelles Agency.

Independent Russian media outlet Mediazona said Saturday according to its estimates more than 66,000 Russian military personnel have died during the war in Ukraine. Mediazona has been drawing up a list of known soldier deaths in conjunction with the BBC Russian Service using open-source data. Previously in April, they announced they had found more than 50,000 names of Russians killed. Mediazona said Saturday that «as of August 30, we know the names of 66,471 Russian soldiers killed in the war». The list has gone up by more than 4,600 in the last four weeks, it said, while stressing this was not a definitive figure since many soldiers' deaths are not made public. Anastasia Alekseyeva, a journalist at Mediazona, stressed that the latest death numbers were «not linked to Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region or Russia's advance in the east». This is because researchers are still working through a backlog of death reports, she said. The report found that 172 conscripts doing national service have been killed in the war, with the highest figures in early months. However these figures may be inexact since conscripts can sign professional army contracts and some may have done so without telling relatives, Mediazona editor Dmitry Treshchanin said. According to Mediazona's breakdown, the region with the largest absolute number of deaths -- 2,578 -- is the southern republic of Bashkortostan, which has a large Muslim population. The most represented age group overall was 33-35 (6,877 deaths). More than 12,000 of the dead were prisoners, after Russia sought to recruit inmates by promising them freedom after a period on the front line. But numbers have dropped recently, Alekseyeva said: «evidently the recruitment drive is not as active». Mediazona and the BBC along with volunteers have been counting deaths since February 2022, using open-source information from official reports and the media, as well as using satellite images of Russian cemeteries to estimate the number of new graves. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that almost 700,0000 Russian soldiers were fighting in Ukraine. Moscow rarely talks about the losses it has sustained in what it calls a «special military operation». The defence ministry in September 2022 said 5,937 soldiers had been killed in combat. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the first two years of the war. © Agence France-Presse

The future is looking bright for badminton in Seychelles as several young players won three silver and three bronze medals at the All Africa School championship in Senegal recently. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, was represented at the competition by Yohan Didon, Joshua Raguin, Liana Bedier and Aurelie Jean-Louis. Didon won three silver medals in three events. In the boys singles event, he lost in the final to Benin's Lewis Kpanou with the first set score of  21-16, before going down 21-13 in the second set to lose the match by two sets to nil. He won another silver medal in the boys' doubles event, where he teamed up with Raguin. The final was another battle against players from Benin where they lost 2 sets to nil. Didon's third silver medal came in the mix double in which he teamed up with  Aurelie Jean-Louis facing a team from Benin again.   Seychelles lost the first set 21-7, before also going down 21-6 in the second set to lose 2-0 and settle for a silver medal. The three bronze medals were won by Liana Bedier in the girls single event. Bedier with Jean-Louis claimed bronze in the girls' doubles and finally Bedier and Raguin won bronze in the mixed doubles. Seychelles used to be recognised in badminton at the African level with players winning medals in international competitions. These were from players like Juliette Waye-Hive formerly Ah-Wan, Alissen Camille, Georgie Cupidon and Steve Malcouzane, claiming titles all over the continent and even being crowned African Champions. The hope is that the younger generation can bring back the days of glory.  

Almost two months after France's inconclusive legislative elections, impatience is growing with the reluctance of President Emmanuel Macron to name a new prime minister in an unprecedented standoff with opposition parties. Never in the history of the Fifth Republic -- which began with constitutional reform in 1958 -- has France gone so long without a permanent government, leaving the previous administration led by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in place as caretakers. A left-wing coalition emerged from the election as the biggest political force but with nowhere near enough seats for an overall majority, while Macron's centrist faction and the far-right make up the two other major groups in the National Assembly. To the fury of the New Popular Front (NFP) coalition, Macron earlier this week rejected their choice of economist and civil servant Lucie Castets, 37, to become premier, arguing a left-wing government would be a «threat to institutional stability». Macron insisted during a Thursday visit to Serbia that he was making «every effort» to «achieve the best solution for the country». «I will speak to the French people in due time and within the right framework,» he said. - 'Serious political crisis' - Macron's task is to find a prime minister with whom he can work but who above all can find enough support in the National Assembly to escape swift ejection by a no-confidence motion. Despite the lack of signs of progress in public, attention is crystallising on one possible «back to the future» option. Former Socialist Party grandee Bernard Cazeneuve, 61, could return to the job of prime minister which he held for less than half a year under the presidency of Francois Hollande from 2016-2017. He is better known for his much longer stint as interior minister under Hollande, which encompassed the radical Islamist attacks on Paris in November 2015. But Cazeneuve receives far from whole-hearted support even on the left, where some in the Socialist Party (PS) regard him with suspicion for leaving when it first struck an alliance with hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) -- a party which in turn sees the ex-PM as too centrist. Another option could be the Socialist mayor of the Paris suburb of Saint-Ouen, Karim Bouamrane, 51, who has said he would consider taking the job if asked. Bouamrane is widely admired for seeking to tackle inequality and insecurity in the low-income district. The stalemate has ground on first through the Olympics and now the Paralympics, with Macron showing he is in no rush to resolve the situation. «We are in the most serious political crisis in the history of the Fifth Republic,» Jerome Jaffre, a political scientist at the Sciences Po university, told AFP. France has been «without a majority, without a government for forty days,» he said, marking the longest period of so-called caretaker rule since the end of World War II. - 'Rubik's cube' - Macron's move to block Castets even seeking to lead a government provoked immediate outrage from the left, with Green Party chief Marine Tondelier accusing the president of stealing the election outcome. National coordinator for the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), Manuel Bompard, said the decision was an «unacceptable anti-democratic coup», and LFI leader Jean-Luc Melanchon called for Macron's impeachment. Some leftist leaders are urging for popular demonstrations on September 7, although this move has alarmed some Socialists and led to strains within the NFP. France is in a «void with no precedents or clear rules about what should happen next,» said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at the Eurasia Group consultancy. The president was «confronted with a parliamentary Rubik's cube without an obvious solution,» said Rahman. October 1 is the legal deadline by which a government must present a draft budget law for 2025. The president has a constitutional duty to «ensure» the government functions, said public law professor Dominique Rousseau. «He's not going to appoint a government that we know will be overthrown within 48 hours,» he added. For constitutional scholar Dominique Chagnollaud, Macron has backed himself into a corner, creating «unprecedented constitutional confusion». The logical choice is to appoint a leader from the group that «came out on top,» said Chagnollaud. «In most democracies, that's how it works. If that doesn't work, we try a second solution, and so on.» © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles will embark on a multi-phased land reclamation project at the Providence Industrial Area by the end of the year, once the environmental impact assessment (EIA ) is done, to cater to an ever growing demand for land for business use, a top government official said on Wednesday. The areas for reclamation  Providence Zone 18 lagoon area, Providence Zone 5, and Providence Zone 20 are subject to approval of EIA. The benefits of the reclaimed land are an increase in industrial land supply with 346 more plots, enabling awaiting applicants, if successful through tender, to be assisted with land for business development and create more investment opportunities and economic prosperity. Speaking to the press, the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry,  Devika Vidot, revealed the government's plans recently in a consultative meeting held with various interested parties who have already applied for a plot of land at the industrial estate. The authorities will make the land available for businesses involved in light manufacturing as well as other industrial purposes. When explaining the reason for such a decision, Vidot said there was already a great demand for a plot on the estate that vastly surpassed the authorities' abilities to supply. There are currently over 1,200 applicants on its waiting list for a plot of land. «Access to land remains a great challenge to the government, as it is stopping you from expanding your businesses, leaving you unable to employ more people or train them, which means as a country we are missing out on these opportunities,» she said. Meanwhile, the project to reclaim the land at Providence is still in the environmental impact assessment stage. Once completed, Vidot said it is only when the IEA is done and approval is given that the authorities will go ahead with the reclamation. Businesses currently waiting for a plot of land are expected to have access to them in 2026. Vidot said the authorities will apply stringent rules when reviewing applications for the newly reclaimed land. This will include proof that the applicants have the means to properly develop their plots.

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, will participate in the Ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, scheduled from September 4 to 6, State House said on Friday. The summit will gather African leaders to engage in high-level discussions aimed at enhancing strategic communication and coordination, reinforcing the foundation for the continued development of China-Africa relations, according to a press statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs.The 2024 forum, themed «Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,» will serve as a platform for furthering mutual cooperation.The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was established in 2000 as a uni-multilateral partnership platform between China and 53 African states. FOCAC has been held successfully eight times since it was established and the last edition was held in 2021 in Dakar, Senegal. 

The Speaker of the Seychelles National Assembly, Roger Mancienne, has emphasised the interconnectedness of the world and the implications of global events at the 2024 Interregional Seminar on the Achievement of the SDGs for parliaments of developing countries, in his presentation.   The event was together with the held together with Commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the National People's Congress (NPC's) Membership to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Beijing, China, from August 19 to 28. The Seychelles' delegation also comprised the Leader of the Opposition, Sebastien Pillay, from the main opposition party United Seychelles, Norbert Loizeau, the elected member of the central Bel Air district, and the director of the Office of the Clerk, Brigitte Contoret. The opening ceremony, held in the Great Hall of the People, was undertaken by the Chairman of the National People's Congress, Zhao Leji, and attended by all speakers and heads of delegations. A notable highlight was the meeting of speakers with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made a call to action for the advocation and promotion of «an equal and orderly multi-polar world and an inclusive economic globalisation that benefits all.» This was followed by the opening ceremony of the 2024 Interregional Seminar on the Achievement of the SDGs for Parliaments of Developing Countries under the theme «Stronger Inter-Parliamentary Exchanges for Better Achievement of the SDGs.» In his presentation under the theme «Jointly upholding peace and stability for common development and prosperity,» Mancienne underlined the significance of peace and stability to the world's achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also emphasised the vital role of parliaments in creating a more progressive world based on mutual cooperation. Mancienne expressed his appreciation for China's sustained engagement with the IPU and the global parliamentary network and said, «As a leader in the world economy, China's unwavering commitment to peace and stability is certainly welcome.» Pillay also gave a presentation under the theme «Synergising development strategies for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.» The presentation outlined the importance of global prosperity and inclusive economic globalisation. The Global Development Initiative seeks to achieve the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals by fostering equitable partnerships and promoting stronger, greener, and healthier global development. Pillay said, «We must ensure that we defend and promote what the people need while emphasising the transfer of modern technologies, economic diversification, and international cooperation to build resilient, sustainable economies.»

The ordination of two new Seychellois priests, and a new deacon within days of each other in August has given hope to the Roman Catholic Church in Seychelles, after years of no new persons interested in this religious vocation. Recently Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan met Father Christian Toulon, Father Emmanuel Boniface, and Deacon Aubrey Pon Wayne at State House. The head of state congratulated the clergymen on their recent ordinations, commending their dedication to serving the community. Ramkalawan also reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting their initiatives as young Seychellois leaders. In this week's buzz, SNA presents you with the four new men who have joined the Diocese of Port Victoria, in the western Indian Ocean nation of Seychelles, in the last two years.   Deacon Aubrey Ponwaye Ponwaye's journey to becoming a member of the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church in Seychelles started in 2010 when he left Seychelles for Quebec, Canada, where he joined the Roman Catholic community of spiritual brotherhood and sisterhood of 'St Famille Marie-Jeunesse'.   Ponwaye was ordained as a deacon on July 14.    (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY    Father Christian Toulon A graduate of the University of Malaysia, and a former electrician, Toulon was ordained as a deacon in December 2023. Prior to that the young man had joined a Catholic group called «Cherche ton étoile» («Search for your star»), a platform, where young people meet to deepen the question of vocation. It was through these meetings that he chose the vocation of priesthood and was ordained on August 5. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY    Father Emmanuel Boniface A former teacher from Bougainville, Boniface who is musically talented with a passion for the guitar, did his studies and training at the Seychelles Institute for Teacher Education. After he graduated, he worked as a primary teacher before pursuing his other vocation and left for theology studies in Tanzania, Kenya and France. Boniface was ordained as a deacon in Orleans, France, in December 2023.  Aged 31 years old, he was ordained as a priest on August 11, at the Anse Royale parish of Saint Joseph. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY    Father Romeo Bonne Bonne, who was ordained in July 2022, is the first Catholic priest from Seychelles to join the Spiritan congregation. His ordination came 13 years after that of Father Collin Underwood in 2009. Right after his ordination, he left for Cape Verde for his first missionary post. Bonne joined the Spiritan congregation in 2017 after studying in Senegal. The Spiritan congregation is a Roman Catholic religious community founded in France in 1703, formally called the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. He was ordained a deacon in Dakar, Senegal, in August 2021.  (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY   

Seychelles well-known heavyweight boxer, Keddy Agnes, has announced his retirement from the sport at the end of 2024.   Agnes' announcement comes a month after the Seychelles Aquatic Federation announced the retirement of top Seychellois female swimmer Felicity Passion. This means that the Seychelles' Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year for 2023 are both retiring. The 30-year-old boxer has been performing in high-level competitions for many years but after failing to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, he has decided to concentrate on his work in the Seychelles Police rather than boxing. Agnes will go down as one of the best boxers Seychelles has produced, in recent years, with his strength in the ring being talked about by Seychellois of all ages. «I will not be competing for another Olympic Games qualification as this will be my last year in the sport. I will be going for my last African Championship in October of this year, and that will be it,» he told SNA. The two-time Sportsman of the Year award winner explained that he will continue to get involved with the sport and will be looking to help the younger boxers, although he revealed that a lot has to change for him to change his mind. Agnes had a great 2023 in which he won a gold medal at the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) and a silver medal at the African Championships in Cameroon. He also finished third at the Olympic qualification tournament in Senegal. This year has been quiet and Agnes mostly competed in Olympic qualifying tournaments but despite his efforts was unable to secure a spot in the Paris Games. «My only regret is that I have not qualified for the Olympic Games, as I have represented Seychelles at almost other competitions aside from that one. I have tried my best to qualify, but I have been unlucky,» he told SNA. Agnes said that he sees a lot of potential in the other young boxers coming up and explained that the young athletes need to continue to get exposure to international competitions for them to improve. «There are many motivated boxers here, such as Dasheil Fanchette, Joshua Cousin, and others, who if they continue to push on, nothing will be impossible,» he added. Agnes has represented Seychelles at various levels, representing the island nation at the Commonwealth Games, Francophonie Games, African Games, and Indian Ocean Island Games, whete he won numerous medals internationally for Seychelles. While many will be hoping that Agnes will change his mind and continue to fight for that Olympic qualification, the boxer is urging the younger generation of athletes to remain motivated and continue to work hard, if they are to achieve the things that he has accomplished.

The Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) based in Seychelles, in collaboration with the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar, with regional and international partners successfully conducted Operation Levante 2 from August 15 to 22. According to a joint press release from the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) on Monday, also participating in the operation were Kenya, Madagascar, the United Kingdom and EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta in Somalia. The preventive operation was organised during the port visits of the ships ESPS Numancia from the EUNAVFOR Atalanta, and the Royal Navy HMS Lancaster to Kenya and Seychelles, respectively. Operation Levante 2 is part of a strategy to deter and repress various illegal activities at sea in the western Indian Ocean, identified under the surveillance of the RMIFC, such as illegal migration, drug trafficking, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Its main objectives were to improve maritime domain awareness, deter illegal activities at sea, strengthen maritime security, integrate legal experts in operations and promote information sharing between regional and international partners. In addition to this, the operation made it possible to test the interoperability of the forces of the different participating countries and partners. The operation made it possible to monitor more than 60 vessels over an area of 1,223,815 square kilometres. It included a particular case involving a Kenya-flagged vessel suspected of IUU fishing just outside the Somali territorial seas, currently being handled in cooperation with Somalian and Kenyan authorities. Seychellois captain Sam Gontier, director of the RCOC, said, «With the collaboration of member states and partners within the Regional Maritime Security Architecture (RMSA), we are continuously increasing our patrols across the western Indian Ocean.» Gontier said, «The RCOC, through new partnerships and the inclusion of additional member states, is expanding its presence and capabilities to conduct joint operations. This strengthened presence plays a vital role in upholding the rule of law and combatting the notion of a »No man's sea,« ensuring that security and order are maintained throughout the region.» The two regional centres involved in this mission, RMIFC and RCOC, were initially established under the EU-funded MASE programme, under the component implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). Its objective is to enhance maritime safety and security in the western Indian Ocean through regional and international cooperation.  

Medals are up for grabs in track cycling, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo when the action begins on Thursday at the Paris Paralympics, which opened in a colourful and hope-filled ceremony ahead of 11 days of competition. The action also begins in sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, badminton, archery, goalball -- a form of football for the visually impaired -- and boccia, a version of bowls. French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open on Wednesday during a ceremony in a balmy Place de la Concorde in central Paris -- the first time a Paralympic opening ceremony has taken place away from the main stadium. The 4,400 competitors from 168 delegations paraded into the arena as the sun set with host nation France entering last to a standing ovation from 30,000 spectators. The fine weather was in sharp contrast to the heavy rain which fell throughout the Olympics opening ceremony on July 26. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president Andrew Parsons told the athletes and spectators he hoped for an «inclusion revolution», before Macron officially declared the Games open. The Paralympic flag was carried into the square by John McFall, a British Paralympic sprinter who has been selected by the European Space Agency to be the first 'parastronaut'. French Olympian Florent Manaudou brought the flame into the arena to complete the four-day torch relay. Five French Paralympians, including 2020 gold medallists Alexis Hanquinquant and Nantenin Keita, lit the already-iconic cauldron in the Tuileries Gardens. Of the 35 Olympic venues, 18 will be used for the Paralympics including the ornate Grand Palais and the Stade de France. Ticket sales had been sluggish for the Paralympics, which run until September 8, but they have accelerated since the Olympics and organisers say more than two million of the 2.5 million available have been sold, with several venues sold out. - Ukraine send strong team - Riding the wave of their Olympic team's success, host nation France are aiming for a substantial improvement on the 11 golds in 2021, which left them 14th in the medals table. Paralympic powerhouses China dominated the last Paralympics in Tokyo with 96 golds and have again sent a strong delegation. Ukraine, traditionally one of the top medal-winning nations at the Paralympics, have sent 140 athletes to compete in 17 sports despite the challenges they face in preparing as the war against Russian forces rages at home. A total of 96 athletes from Russia and Belarus will compete under a neutral banner but are banned from ceremonies because of the invasion of Ukraine. American above-the-knee amputee sprinter/high jumper Ezra Frech, who is 19, has been tipped as a potential new star at these Games. Away from the track, more established names go in search of glory. Iranian sitting volleyball legend Morteza Mehrzad, who stands 8ft 1in (2.46m) tall, will attempt to take gold again. Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio, the Italian fencer who had all four limbs amputated when she contracted meningitis at the age of 11, is aiming for a third Paralympic Games gold. © Agence France-Presse

The death toll climbed Thursday as Israel pressed a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank for a second day, despite UN concerns it is «fuelling an already explosive situation». The operation was launched as violence raged on in the other main Palestinian territory, the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by war since Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attacks. Israel began coordinated raids in the northern West Bank cities of Jenin, Tubas and Tulkarem early on Wednesday, in what the military called a «counter-terrorism» operation. Columns of Israeli armoured vehicles backed by troops and warplanes were sent in before soldiers encircled refugee camps in Tubas and Tulkarem, as well as Jenin, and exchanged fire with Palestinian militants. The army said it killed five militants in Tulkarem during the latest operations in the West Bank on Thursday, bringing the overall toll to 14 dead. «Following exchanges of fire, the forces eliminated five terrorists who had hidden inside a mosque» in Tulkarem, the military said in a statement. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad confirmed the death of Muhammad Jabber, also known as Abu Shujaa, its commander in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem. The violence has caused significant destruction, especially in Tulkarem, whose governor described the raids as «unprecedented» and a «dangerous signal». AFPTV footage showed bulldozers ripping up the asphalt from streets in the city as a precaution against concealed explosives. Authorities reported widespread damage to infrastructure, including to water and sewage networks. The Palestinian health ministry said 12 Palestinians were killed on the first day of the operation. Witnesses said the Israeli forces had withdrawn from Al-Farra refugee camp in Tubas where several Palestinians were killed on Wednesday. - 'Explosive situation' - An AFP photographer said clashes were still taking place in Jenin, where a drone was seen flying overhead. Another AFP journalist said Israeli soldiers were still operating in Tulkarem. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club said at least 45 people had been arrested since the start of the Israeli operation in the northern West Bank. The United Nations expressed concern over the Israeli operations in the West Bank. UN chief Antonio Guterres, in a statement, called for an «immediate cessation of these operations». Guterres condemned the use of air strikes on civilian targets and «the loss of lives, including of children». «These dangerous developments are fuelling an already explosive situation in the occupied West Bank and further undermining the Palestinian Authority,» the UN statement said. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia to address the crisis, while Jordan's King Abdullah II appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza to stop the spread of violence. Since the war began, at least 637 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli troops or settlers, according to the United Nations. Nineteen Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during army operations, according to Israeli official figures. - 'Don't know where to go' - Violence also raged in Gaza, where the Israeli military on Thursday said it «eliminated dozens» of militants during the past day in close-quarters combat and air strikes. The army said one of those killed in the Khan Yunis area was a militant who took part in the October 7 attack. The war in Gaza erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Militants also seized 251 people, 103 of whom are still captive in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 40,602 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children. The war has devastated Gaza and triggered a humanitarian crisis. The United Nations said it was continuing to deliver humanitarian assistance despite the upheaval to civilians and aid teams caused by repeated Israeli evacuation orders and military operations. «It's just catastrophic,» said Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestine refugees, or UNRWA. «What we're seeing now is families, mothers, children dragging their belongings,» she said on social media platform X. «There's very limited access to any kind of vehicles for this kind of displacement now, and people just don't know where to go.» © Agence France-Presse

Israel launched a large-scale operation Wednesday in the occupied West Bank, where the army said it killed Palestinian fighters, as the nearly 11-month-old Gaza war showed no signs of abating. The military said its forces killed nine militants while the Palestinian Red Crescent reported 10 deaths in the West Bank, where violence has surged during the war sparked by Gaza rulers Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. The war has killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, and caused widespread destruction and displacement. Early Wednesday, Israel launched coordinated raids across four northern West Bank cities -- Jenin, Nablus, Tubas and Tulkarem -- where the military has focused much of its recent operations against armed groups. Columns of armoured vehicles entered two refugee camps, in Tulkarem and Tubas, as well as Jenin. By midday, they were blocking entrances to the towns and camps, AFP photographers said, with soldiers firing at the camps from which gunfire and explosions were heard. The Red Crescent said Israeli forces killed 10 people and wounded 22 others in the raids. The medical organisation's West Bank chief Younes al-Khatib said ambulances came under Israel fire and «one of our staffers was hit». Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia and headed home to «follow up on the latest developments in light of the Israeli aggression», Palestinian official media said. Jordan's King Abdullah II told visiting US lawmakers a Gaza truce was needed «to stop the cycle of violence in the region», according to a royal statement. Violence meanwhile raged in the Gaza Strip, where the civil defence agency reported at least 12 dead in Israeli strikes, and in Lebanon where the Israeli military said it killed a «significant» Palestinian militant. Mediation efforts seeking an end to the Gaza war continued in Qatar where an Israeli delegation was present Wednesday, said a source close to the negotiations. - Israeli minister declares 'war' - In the West Bank, a Tulkarem municipality official told AFP the scale of the destruction was «very big». Israeli forces «attacked the infrastructure, in particular in the city of Tulkarem and the Nur Shams camp» and «destroyed» water and sewage systems, Hakim Abu Safiyeh said. Israeli bulldozers dug up asphalt from the streets, with the army saying it was looking for roadside bombs. A spokesman said troops were exchanging fire with militants. The army reported no casualties on its side. The military carries out daily raids in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, but it is rare for these to happen in multiple cities simultaneously. Wednesday's operation, according to army spokesman Nadav Shoshani, was not «extremely different» from regular activity. But Foreign Minster Israel Katz said the military was «operating in full force since last night» in what he called «a war» aiming to «dismantle Iranian-Islamic terror infrastructure». In a post on X, he accused Iran -- Israel's main regional foe which backs Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon -- of seeking to «establish an eastern front against Israel» in the West Bank. Since October 7, Israeli troops or settlers have killed more than 650 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures, and Palestinian attacks have killed at least 19 Israelis, officials say. The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions on an Israeli settler group that the State Department said was involved in violence against Palestinians and had a role in the forced displacement of some 250 villagers earlier this year. The UN Human Rights Office said the latest Israeli raids risk «deepening the already catastrophic situation» in the West Bank. - Fleeing Gaza hospital - Last week, the army announced it had killed a senior Palestinian militant in Lebanon, accusing him of «directing attacks and smuggling weapons» to the West Bank. Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian Islamist movement allied with Hamas which has a strong presence in the northern West Bank, early Wednesday denounced an «open war» by Israel. «With this aggression... the occupier wants to impose a new state of affairs on the ground to annex the West Bank,» a statement said. Israel's military later said a strike in the Syria-Lebanon border area killed a «significant» Islamic Jihad operations officer. A Syrian war monitor reported four dead. Hamas late Tuesday reiterated a call for Palestinians in the West Bank to «rise up» following widely condemned comments by a far-right Israeli minister. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a settler and proponent of West Bank annexation, said he would build a synagogue at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound if he could. In Gaza, Palestinians were on the move following Israeli evacuation orders. One of the latest targeted the area around Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital in Deir el-Balah, from which «nearly 650 patients have fled», Doctors Without Borders said. The charity said it «opened a field hospital and started receiving patients amid a severe lack of supplies and resources». Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 40,534 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children. The remains of Shaked Dahan, an Israeli soldier killed on October 7, have been recovered from Gaza, his family's hometown said Wednesday. He was one of 251 people seized by Palestinian militants during the attack, 103 of whom are still captive in Gaza including 33 the military says are dead. © Agence France-Presse

The WHO on Tuesday said droplets were a minor route of transmission for mpox compared to physical contact, adding that more research was needed to understand how the outbreak is spreading. The World Health Organization declared an international emergency over mpox on August 14, concerned by the surge in cases of the Clade 1b strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its spread to nearby countries. The UN health agency says on its website that mpox spreads between people mainly through close physical contact with someone who has the virus. «Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth, or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing),» it says. It can also include «being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles)». WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said Tuesday that if a person with the virus had lesions, «if you're talking closely to someone, breathing on them, physically close, face-to-face, there is a possibility» of viral spread, «but this is a minor source». Instead, «what we're seeing is the close, physical skin-to-skin» contact as the chief route of transmission, she told a briefing in Geneva. «When you're talking to somebody, you're spitting out droplets,» but «it's not a very major form of transmission -- and it's not a... through-the-air, long-distance sort of transmission». «More research is needed to fully understand the transmission dynamics,» Harris added. The WHO recommends the use of facemasks for those with mpox, their close contacts and health workers treating them. - Studies into new strain - There are two subtypes of mpox: Clade 1, endemic in the Congo Basin in central Africa; and Clade 2, endemic in West Africa. The surge in the DR Congo is being driven by surges of two different Clade 1 strains. The first is an outbreak in northwest DRC of what was previously known as Clade 1, now called Clade 1a. The second, in northeastern DRC, is a new offshoot of Clade 1 called Clade 1b, which was first detected in September last year and is spreading rapidly. The spread of Clade 1b, and its detection in nearby countries, were the main reasons behind the WHO sounding its top emergency alarm. Clade 1 mpox is known to be more virulent than Clade 2 mpox and has a higher fatality rate. As for whether Clade 1b is more dangerous than Clade 1a, Harris said: «We don't have that data.» «Studies are under way to understand the properties of the new strain. But available epidemiological data doesn't really suggest that the clade 1b variant causes more severe cases and deaths.» The WHO said Tuesday that it needed $87.4 million from September to February to implement its plans to contain the mpox outbreak. Meanwhile the UN refugee agency warned that displacement camps in the DRC and other impacted countries in Africa could be severely affected. «Without additional, urgent support, the recently declared mpox outbreak could become devastating for refugees and displaced communities,» said UNHCR's public health chief Allen Maina. He said implementing mpox prevention measures among those fleeing violence was a «tremendous challenge», with people driven into overcrowded shelters with poor sanitation, while others were cut off from humanitarian assistance. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles and Algeria will reinforce their existing relationship by further cooperation in key sectors such as education and health, said the newly accredited Algerian ambassador on Tuesday. Filali Ghouini made the announcement after presenting his credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House. He told reporters that the two countries are looking to facilitate students from Seychelles to obtain Algerian university scholarships. The two countries will also continue to work together in the areas of capacity building and exchanging expertise in the tourism and agriculture sectors. Ghouini said the two countries had «solidarity in cooperation on different issues and have similar positions in African and international issues.» They also discussed the newly signed Bilateral Air Service Agreement between the two countries. On Monday, Ghouini made a courtesy visit to the principal secretary for Foreign Affairs, Vivianne Fock-Tave.   Fock Tave conveyed the appreciation of Seychelles' government for the support from Algeria since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in September 1976. Discussions also focused on issues related to the African Union, cooperation in the health sector, and possible exchanges of expertise, notably in the fields of agriculture and tourism. Ghouini will be based in Antananarivo, Madagascar.   

Popular Seychellois reggae artist, Golty Farabeau, who moved to the United Kingdom some 20 years ago is appealing to fans and well-wishers in the country to help him raise much-needed funds to return to Seychelles. Farabeau, 62, has been diagnosed with terminal progressive kidney cancer, and late last month, the singer with the help of his friend Linda Smith, set up a GoFundMe to raise the money needed for his travel expenses, medical care and to ensure the artist may spend his remaining days in his native land. Speaking on his live feed on FaceBook on Sunday night, Farabeau said  that since “I can no longer breathe properly, I am being assisted by a tube, I feel that I do not have long before I go.” He revealed to his followers that he would need around SCR2 million ($ 149,288) to get to Seychelles.  The initial GoFundMe page has raised £8,576 donated as of midday on Monday, exceeding the initial £6,000 it had targeted. Farabeau said this would not be sufficient for his flight and other expenses. “I have friends in the country who have contacted the authorities to help me, however, the amount of time it will take for them to complete the formalities is not time that I have right now,« he said. The artist, well-known for songs such as 'An Avan' in English “Let’s Move Forward’ and Larout I Long “The Road is Long, » said, "Despite the many challenges I've faced throughout my life, nothing could prepare me for this battle. As the disease progresses, my strength is fading, and I realise that my time is running short.” Farabeau, a singer, composer and musician, has been performing in bands in the UK, after moving there in 2003 to further his career. He performed in two bands – Jahmadou and the Red Head Band – the first mainly playing soul, funk and blues music while the former mostly reggae. He said, “More than anything, I want the place where I recover to be what I've always called home— the Seychelles. Being surrounded by my family's love and the ocean's familiar sounds would mean the world to me.” 

Although the fleet of Spanish purse seiners registered in Seychelles have noted a drop in catch for the yellowfin tuna in 2023, the first half of 2024 seems to be back to the normal average, said the deputy manager of OPAGAC, Miguel Herrera. The OPAGAC-AGAC group represents the interests of six Spanish seiners out of the 13 seiners registered in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. OPAGAC is an organisation of producers of frozen tuna recognised in Spain by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, while AGAC is the Association of Large Tuna Freezers and currently has nine groups of shipowners. Every year, the Seychelles-flagged vessels are legally required to declare their catch for the year on December 31, and usually, vessels start reaching their limit towards the end of October or the beginning of November. This is, however, vessel-specific as each one manages its quota differently. Last year, since the vessels were behind on their quota, they were still at sea until the end of December. To ensure that these vessels did not miss the start of the season at the beginning of January, they were allowed to remain at sea and granted permission to declare their catch for 2023 two weeks later on January 15.   Herrera said, «Yes, there were vessels from AGAC that remained at sea over the end of the year, as they had not reached their YFT catch limits. All Seychelles-flagged purse seiners have logbooks onboard and skippers are obliged to report catches in those logbooks, per fishing set and species. Therefore, the SFA (Seychelles Fishing Authority) can monitor the catches in near-real time and assign them to the year in which the catch limit applies.» Herrera highlighted the country's privileged position in the Indian Ocean, being at the centre of purse seine activity. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  He noted that «this has been the system used by other members of IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission), like Spain and France, since the implementation of catch limits for the monitoring of catches against the limits assigned to each purse seiner. This system assists Seychelles to fully utilise its catch limits, reducing the time in the port of purse seiners and ensuring a longer economic activity and supply to the canning factory in Seychelles.» Herrera surmised that the drop last year may have been due to natural phenomena such as El Nino, but for this year, they were maintaining the normal average so far. «The fleet has noted a drop in catchability of yellowfin tuna during 2023, which was very likely driven by oceanographic conditions. During 2023, the thermocline was allegedly deeper, and the fish targeted by surface fisheries was more spread over the water column, some beyond the range of purse seine nets, which may reach depths of around 150-200m, depending on the currents. However, in 2024 everything seems to be back to normal, with catches of YFT at normal average levels according to skippers.» Yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean is currently the most overfished tuna stock in the world. In 2016, the IOTC adopted a resolution reducing the fishing allowance of the species by 15 percent to help rebuild the population. Given these limits and the possibility of catchability being affected by natural phenomena, Herrera said, «The fleet tries to adapt to the circumstances as they come, using the technology at hand. Fishing is always subject to management rules and the availability of tuna schools, which may be caught as either free-swimming schools or associated with fishing objects. In recent years, shipowners and skippers have been obliged to plan properly their fishing activities, bearing in mind the catch limits in place. The recent adoption by the IOTC of catch limits for the bigeye tuna may also bring changes in the future, as the fleet adapts to both yellowfin and bigeye catch limits.» Given Seychelles' position geographically, Herrera highlighted the country's privileged position in the Indian Ocean, being at the centre of purse seine activity. He emphasised the importance of maintaining a fine balance between further investments as well as certain challenges that may arise on the horizon. «Most of the purse seine fishing occurs in the western central Indian Ocean, in waters within or neighbouring the Seychelles EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Regarding investments, it is a delicate balance, and we believe that there will be increased competition in the region, as some other coastal countries are trying to develop infrastructure and services for fishing vessels. Considering that Seychelles has been the most important tuna hub in the region for many years, we are confident that the government will keep using their savoir-faire to keep levels of activity where they are now,» he added. Herrera concluded that while the rest of the year is still uncertain regarding the catch levels, they are still hopeful for the future and that «2024 seems to be a normal year, with catches at levels similar to those before 2023. However, it is too early to say whether this will be the situation by the end of the year as this is a very changing world.» «We hope that we will be able to make the best of our fishing opportunities, within the margins established by the IOTC, and the Seychelles government, to ensure the long-term sustainability of our vessels and the resources they depend on. We are also hopeful that the IOTC will be able to resolve all the issues identified at previous YFT assessments and reach a consensus on a fully inclusive YFT management measure. In this regard, we fully appreciate the active role that the Seychelles government has been playing at the regional level and hope that efforts to bring everybody on board will continue,» he said. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with US President Joe Biden about his visit to Ukraine, with the White House voicing hope that he embraced Kyiv's view on ending Russia's invasion. Modi, who angered Ukrainians by hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow recently, visited Kyiv on Friday and told President Volodymyr Zelensky that «no problem should be solved on the battlefield.» Speaking to Biden by telephone, Modi «reiterated India's consistent position in favor of dialogue and diplomacy and expressed full support for (an) early return of peace and stability,» an Indian foreign ministry statement said. Asked about Biden's response, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the United States supported all countries listening to Zelensky's perspectives on ending the war. «We welcome any other country that wants to help President Zelensky work towards this just peace,» Kirby told reporters. The White House later released a readout of the call that said Biden «commended the prime minister» for «his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector.» Modi and Biden «affirmed their continued support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law, on the basis of the UN Charter,» the White House said. Zelensky has called for the return of all territory seized by Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. India has not explicitly backed Zelensky's stance. Despite increasingly close relations with Washington, India has refused to join US sanctions on Moscow, with which it has historic relations, and instead has embraced Russia as a cheaper source of oil. India said that Modi and Biden also discussed Bangladesh, where leader Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi, resigned and fled earlier this month after mass protests against her increasingly authoritarian rule. The Indian statement said that Modi and Biden «emphasized restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.» In the immediate aftermath of Hasina's fall, attacks on Hindus across Muslim-majority Bangladesh were reported. The security situation has since far improved. The United States had repeatedly criticized Sheikh Hasina for backsliding on democracy but, knowing that India was far more invested in Bangladesh, had been careful not to clash openly with New Delhi. © Agence France-Presse