The first direct charter flight of the Sichuan Airlines, linking Seychelles to Chengdu in China, arrived in the island nation on Tuesday. The flight touched down at the Seychelles International Airport at Pointe Larue at 6.47 am carrying 264 passengers, together with a delegation of high officials from Chengdu led by the Deputy Mayor of the city. Also onboard was a group of Chinese businessmen who will be participating in the trade fair organised by the Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA). The trade fair will be held at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel from Thursday, November 21 to Saturday 23. Apart from the officials and the businessmen, there were also several tourists present on the flight. The passengers were welcomed at the airport by the Minister for Tourism and Foreign Affairs, Sylvestre Radegonde, the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry Devika Vidot, the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan, as well as the principal secretary for Tourism, Sherin Francis. In his welcoming address,  Radegonde said that the last time Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, had a direct flight from China was almost six years ago. Radegonde added that the new flight is the result of extensive negotiations and discussions and «it represents the culmination of our shared commitment to strengthening ties with China.» He told reporters that the flight from Chengdu was a chartered one and that they expect to have more from there in the future. «We are having discussions at the moment regarding this flight route. If everything goes well and we get enough people, this might become a regular flight,» he added. Vidot talked about the participation of the 34 businessmen in the trade fair and described China as very developed country, especially in regards to innovation and technology. She said that this event is meant to bring Seychellois entrepreneurs closer to Chinese suppliers as well as show these suppliers the business landscape in Seychelles. «We are making it easier for them; we've removed the language and geographical barrier so they are able to ask questions and learn more about the processes, so they are able to do it themselves in the future,» added Vidot.  According to ESA, the exhibitors from China have shown a lot of interest in displaying agricultural equipment, however, there will be representatives of different sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and hoteliers, beekeeping as well as crafts.

Football fans in Sudan, a country torn apart by war, are savouring a rare moment of pride after the national team qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The feat, achieved at the expense of Ghana, one of the continent's traditional powerhouses, comes despite the team having to play all their matches abroad and the domestic league being suspended. Streets of Port Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of displaced endure agonising waits for water and healthcare, came alive after the match, with car horns blaring and ecstatic fans waving Sudanese flags from the windows. The match marked Sudan's 10th qualification for the continental tournament, offering a rare moment of happiness to a nation devastated by 19 months of war. «Our joy after the game... could not truly reflect the emotions in our hearts,» one jubilant fan, Hassan Mohamed, told AFP. In Port Sudan, the country's de facto capital since last year, fans gathered in cafes Monday to watch the final group stage match against Angola, played in Benghazi, Libya. Others followed the action on mobile phones, holding their breath in the final moments, an AFP correspondent reported. Despite a goalless draw, Sudan secured the second qualifying spot for next year's AFCON finals from a group that, besides Angola and Ghana, also included Niger. As the referee's whistle signalled the end of the game, chairs toppled over as fans jumped for joy. Celebrations spilled into the streets of the Red Sea port city, where car horns echoed in triumph. It was only the second time that Sudan, the champions in 1970, made it to the AFCON finals in the last seven editions. - 'Impossible smile' - Social media platforms lit up with images of the players, as Sudanese users hailed the team's qualification as a «rare joy in dark times». «Their aim was to bring a smile back to the Sudanese people,» Khalid Omer Yousif, vice-chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party, wrote on X. Speaking to AFP by phone, sports journalist Nasr al-Din al-Fadalabi called the achievement «an impossible smile in a time of sorrow». Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Tens of thousands have been killed and more than 11 million have been displaced, including over three million who fled the country. Inside Sudan, displaced people face compounding humanitarian crises and the threat of famine, even in areas spared direct fighting. The war has devastated the country's infrastructure, crippled the health sector and shuttered most businesses. Football has not escaped the turmoil. - Politics on the pitch - With the domestic league suspended, Sudanese football has taken a new path. Home games were relocated to South Sudan and Libya, and the national team trained in Saudi Arabia. Players have signed contracts abroad, including goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa in Tanzania. Sudanese footballers in Libya benefit from local status, while others who played abroad are now in the national team. Among them is Mohamed Eisa, a star forward who spent years in British leagues and now plays in Iran. The war has also seeped into football. In an October match against Ghana, team captain Ramadan Agab mimicked a victory gesture associated with army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, taunting his paramilitary rivals. Burhan has praised the team in public statements and visits to the football federation. For many Sudanese, this week's qualification was a moment of pride and unity. «Despite the divisions among some and despite so many obstacles... they (the players) have overcome every challenge,» said fan Akrama Ali Karamallah. «I believe they will go even further, and as they say, nothing is impossible.» © Agence France-Presse 

Rafael Nadal said early Wednesday he had left a sporting and personal 'legacy' after retiring from professional tennis, as tributes flooded in for the 22-time Grand Slam winner. The 38-year-old's glittering and historic career came to a close as Netherlands defeated Spain in the Davis Cup and Nadal gave an emotional speech that ran over 10 minutes long to more than 10,000 fans in Malaga. After 23 years in the game and many struggles with injury, Nadal retires as the second-most successful men's singles player of all time. «I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one,» Nadal said at his retirement ceremony. «I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same.» Nadal said he hoped people would remember him for more than just his record-breaking achievements on the court, including 14 French Open titles and a record 81-match unbeaten streak on the red dirt which made him the 'King of Clay'. The Spaniard never smashed a racquet on court during his career and was adored for his positive attitude. «The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca,» continued Nadal. «I just want to be remembered as a good person, a kid that followed their dreams and achieved (even) more than what I had dreamed.» Nadal was celebrated with a video montage on the many screens around the Martin Carpena arena in Malaga featuring many tennis greats. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Serena Williams among others left messages in the video, alongside former football stars including David Beckham, Raul and Andres Iniesta, who retired from playing in October. «Your tenacity, your fighting spirit, the energy that you brought, the power, is something that will be studied and transferred to many generations coming up,» said Djokovic, who has the record of 24 Grand Slam men's singles titles and is the last of the 'big three' still playing. «Congratulations on the most incredible career, it was such a privilege to play with you but also against you,» said Federer, Nadal's greatest rival, who retired in 2022 with 20 Grand Slams. - 'Eternal' - Nadal's last match was a 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Botic van de Zandschulp in the first singles rubber of Tuesday's Davis Cup quarter-final, and although Carlos Alcaraz forced a doubles decider Spain were eventually defeated to bring the curtain down on his career. «I'm not tired of playing tennis, it's just that my body has reached a moment where it doesn't want to play any more, so I have to accept the situation,» said Nadal. The Spaniard welled up during the Spanish national anthem at the start of the match and admitted it was «an emotional day». World number three Alcaraz, 21, is one of the game's brightest talents and a player some hope can become Nadal's heir. «His legacy is going to be eternal,» Alcaraz told reporters. «He has been great for tennis, for the sport in general, it is difficult -- at least for me -- to feel that I should continue the legacy that he has left. »It is difficult, almost impossible, I will just try to do my best, right now it's time to say great things about Rafa... «It is just great to have had Rafa in tennis, in Spain and in my life.» Spain's Davis Cup captain David Ferrer also paid tribute to Nadal. «There are people who will be remembered for their achievements in life, others until the end of their days, and others eternally,» said Ferrer. «You will be remembered eternally.» Nadal thanked fans in Spain in his speech but also around the rest of the world where he found many admirers. In Paris, where he won a record 14 French Open titles and earned the nickname the 'King of Clay', his image was projected onto the night sky in front of the Eiffel Tower. «I am crying as we speak... Rafael Nadal... What an absolute icon of sport period! There will never be another one like Rafa!» wrote former world number one Boris Becker on social media platform X. © Agence France-Presse

The Beau Vallon Promenade project, which will see 21 artisanal kiosks installed alongside the popular Regatta site of the Beau Vallon beach, is expected to be completed by May 2025, if everything goes according to plan, said a top official on Wednesday. The project, which began in February, will feature 35 kiosks with 10 of them being for food, four for beverages, and 21 for artisans. «The construction works on the kiosks will be completed in February 2025, but there are still a few small works that will take place after that, to ensure everything is ready and operational by the first week of May,» said the chief executive of Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA), Lisa Lautoy, in an interview with the media.   At the moment, only the kiosks for food and beverage vendors have been allocated. Those for artisans have been delayed as there is an issue with one of the businesses found within the area where the project is being done, which is refusing to move. «For now, only 18 of the 21 artisanal kiosks have been constructed, because of the business that is refusing to move, and we are taking legal action against that business, where we are hoping everything will be sorted and the area can officially open in May,» explained Lautoy. One of the areas that the kiosks have been constructed on, is in fact an area which was used as a vehicle parking. Lautoy explained that the Beau Vallon area has been sub-divided for various development projects, and among them will be parking, although the operators of these kiosks will be allowed to come in with their vehicles for loading. The kiosks have been constructed from concrete but they feature some aesthetics that reflect the traditional buildings of Seychelles. They will all be painted green, to match with the surrounding trees. The kiosks are being constructed by Laxmambhai, a local construction company, as a donation from the company.   Other structures in the area, aside from the kiosks, will include public toilets, as well as toilets for the operators, while a lifeguard kiosk will also be constructed. During the interview, Lautoy also mentioned that the rental fees for these kiosks start from SCR4,000 ($296) per month to SCR17,000 ($1,257). 

Seychelles has established diplomatic relations with El Salvador as part of its engagement to promote bilateral cooperation and the strengthening of friendship, through the signing of a Joint Communiqué on November 12. The Foreign Affairs Department said on Wednesday, that «based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and respect for international law and cooperation, the establishment of diplomatic relations will promote exchanges in various fields of mutual interests for the benefit of the two countries.» The signing ceremony took place in New York between the Permanent Representative of Seychelles to the United Nations, Ambassador Ian Madeleine, and the Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the United Nations, Ambassador Egriselda Aracely González López. 

Seychelles has begun updating its National Implementation (NIP) Plan to effectively target Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and stay aligned with the Stockholm Convention. A workshop was held at the Savoy Resort and Spa hotel on Tuesday to receive the input of not only government officials but also those from civil society, academia and the industry. POPs are compounds that are difficult to destroy, keeping their chemical makeup over long periods that have been linked to a number of health problems in humans. The Stockholm Convention, to which Seychelles is a signatory, calls for governments to take measures to reduce or eliminate the release of POPs into the environment. In her address to officially open the workshop, the director of the Division for Waste, Enforcement and Permit Division, Nanette Laure, said that Seychelles signing the Stockholm Convention represents its collective commitment to safeguarding human health and the environment from the adverse effects of POPs. She said that with the «Seychelles' unique biodiversity and reliance on marine and terrestrial resources, the effective management of such substances is not just an obligation but most importantly it is a necessity.» The participants reviewed the objectives and framework of the Stockholm Convention and its implications for Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. The aim of updating the NIP is to take into account the latest scientific knowledge, technological advancements and most importantly newly listed POPs which in turn Laure said would ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing those polluants. Participants also had the chance to identify challenges, opportunities and priority actions for the updated plan as well as assess progress and achievements made in the existing NIP. Seychelles developed its first NIP in 2007 - where it identified 12 pesticidal POPs that should be eliminated. Local expert Cliff Gonzalves has been appointed as the National Lead Expert for updating the NIP. Over the coming two years, he will be working with the local stakeholders to make an inventory of POPs in the country in an effort to make sure the data available is up to date. The Department of Environment, which is leading the project, also revealed that there will be training sessions as part of the process. The Global Environment Facility (GEF), through the Africa Institute, is providing capacity-building support for updating the NIP.

Botswana will diversify its diamond-dependent economy by launching into the medicinal cannabis market and exploiting its abundant sunshine, President Duma Boko said Tuesday, in his first state of the nation address. Boko swept to power in elections three weeks ago that ejected the party that had ruled for nearly six decades on concerns about a slump in the economy. Diamonds make up about 80 percent of the southern African country's foreign earnings. «The decline in diamond revenues by over 60 percent in recent years is a clear signal that we can no longer afford to depend on a single commodity,» Boko said. His government aims to attract investors to high-potential sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, tourism and technology. «Botswana receives more than 3,200 hours of sunlight annually and averages 21 megajoules per square metre which is among the highest in the world,» Boko said. «The potential of solar energy is abundant.» The arid country will also begin cultivating medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp to plug into the growing international market. «Our forecast in Botswana is to significantly increase our GDP with cannabis and hemp-related products,» said Boko. «We will create jobs in this industry.» A major gripe against the previous government under the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which led the country to independence from Britain in 1966, was a 27-percent unemployment rate, rising to 38 percent for young people. Boko said other plans for job creation lay in boosting manufacturing and construction, as well as encouraging youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Botswana has engaged US billionaire Elon Musk's satellite internet provider Starlink to extend affordable internet connectivity to the entire country, Boko said. Starlink has plans to invest in infrastructure that will help transform Botswana into a digital hub for the entire region, he added. Home to around 2.7 million people, Botswana won praise for a smooth change of government when the BDP was quick to concede defeat after winning just four seats in parliament on October 30, compared to 36 for Boko's Umbrella for Democratic Change. © Agence France-Presse  

The spread of a mosquito in East Africa that thrives in urban areas and is immune to insecticide is fuelling a surge in malaria that could reverse decades of progress against the disease, experts say. Africa accounted for about 95 percent of the 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths worldwide in 2022, according to the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO), which said children under five accounted for 80 percent of deaths in the region. But the emergence of an invasive species of mosquito on the continent could massively increase those numbers. Anopheles stephensi is native to parts of South Asia and the Middle East but was spotted for the first time in the tiny Horn of Africa state of Djibouti in 2012. Djibouti had all but eradicated malaria only to see it make a slow but steady return over the following years, hitting more than 70,000 cases in 2020. Then stephensi arrived in neighbouring Ethiopia and WHO says it is key to an «unprecedented surge», from 4.1 million malaria cases and 527 deaths last year to 7.3 million cases and 1,157 deaths between January 1 and October 20, 2024. Unlike other species which are seasonal and prefer rural areas, stephensi thrives year-round in urban settings, breeding in man-made water storage tanks, roof gutters or even air conditioning units. It appears to be highly resistant to insecticides, and bites earlier in the evening than other carriers. That means bed nets -- up to now the prime weapon against malaria -- may be much less effective. «The invasion and spread of Anopheles stephensi has the potential to change the malaria landscape in Africa and reverse decades of progress we've made towards malaria control,» Meera Venkatesan, malaria division chief for USAID, told AFP. - 'More research is needed' - The fear is that stephensi will infest dense cities like Mombasa on Kenya's Indian Ocean coast and Sudan's capital Khartoum, with one 2020 study warning it could eventually reach 126 million city-dwellers across Africa. Only last month, Egypt was declared malaria-free by WHO after a century-long battle against the disease -- a status that could be threatened by stephensi's arrival. Much remains unknown, however. Stephensi was confirmed as present in Kenya in late 2022, but has so far stayed in hotter, dryer areas without reaching the high-altitude capital, Nairobi. «We don't yet fully understand the biology and behaviour of this mosquito,» Charles Mbogo, president of the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association, told AFP. «Possibly it is climate-driven and requires high temperatures, but much more research is needed.» He called for increased funding for capturing and testing mosquitos, and for educating the public on prevention measures such as covering water receptacles. - Multiplying threats - The spread of stephensi could dovetail with other worrying trends, including increased evidence of drug resistant malaria recorded in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Eritrea. «The arrival of resistance is imminent,» said Dorothy Achu, WHO's head of tropical and vector-borne diseases in Africa. WHO is working with countries to diversify treatment programmes to delay resistance, she said. A new malaria variant is also evading tests used to diagnose the disease. «The increased transmission that stephensi is driving could potentially help accelerate the spread of other threats, such as drug resistance or another mutation in the parasite that leads it to be less detectable by our most widely-used diagnostics,» said Venkatesan at USAID. Another added challenge is the lack of coordination between African governments. Achu said WHO is working on «a more continental approach». But Mbogo in Kenya said «more political will» was needed. «We share information as scientists with colleagues in neighbouring countries,» he said . «But we need to reach the higher level. We need cross-border collaborations, data-sharing.» © Agence France-Presse

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, is set to undertake an official visit to Ghana from November 23 to 25 at the invitation of his counterpart, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, State House said on Tuesday. Seychelles and Ghana have historical ties back to the days of the exile of King Prempeh I of the Ashanti people to the western Indian Ocean archipelago, almost 120 years ago. Ramkalawan's visit will coincide with Ghana's commemoration of the 100th anniversary of King Prempeh I's return from exile in Seychelles. The late King of Ashanti was exiled to Seychelles in the early 1900s and resided there for 24 years before his return to Ghana. Some of his descendants remain in Seychelles, underscoring the enduring bonds between the two nations. The visit of the Seychelles' head of state highlights the longstanding ties between Seychelles and Ghana, since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations on October 10, 1988. 

A top government official said on Monday that the moratorium on change-of-use applications for converting residential properties into tourism accommodations in Seychelles will be lifted on January 13 next year. The moratorium was put in place in August 2023, and it is being lifted after a new policy was approved recently by the Cabinet of Ministers. This means that converting residential properties into tourism accommodations can now take place in line with the Department of Tourism's standards.  The new policy will only apply to Mahe and Praslin, the two main islands of Seychelles. The moratorium for the third most populated island of La Digue will remain in replace in place.   The principal secretary for tourism, Sherin Francis, said, «The new policy will see changes in the procedures. Before applicants had to submit their plans to the Planning Authority for change of use, but now, they will have to complete a mandatory pre-planning stage. The Department of Tourism will assess the property to ensure it is up to the required standards before plans are sent to the Planning Authority.» Applicants will have to submit their letter of intent to the Tourism Department, after which a visit will be organised with all relevant bodies present, to assess the property and provide a report. The applicants will have the report that  can be used when they submit their applications to the Planning Authority. If the application is successful, the applicant can apply for the occupancy stage, where another visit will conducted and if successful, then the process to gain a licence will then begin. Francis explained that this change will put emphasis on higher-quality, low-impact tourism, while also streamlining the application process and ensuring collaboration with the relevant agencies. After the recommendations from the carrying capacity studies, which show that Seychelles' accommodation products are nearly saturated, Francis stated that new change of use facilities must give significant added value to the existing tourism market. The goal is to provide a distinctive, higher-quality guest experience through better and more responsible procedures. «Our physical requirements remain and we will look at the location and size of the property, and minimum requirements, such as room size and safety measures. We have also included some criteria related to sustainability, to start making our operators start thinking of sustainable development when planning their development,» added Francis. According to the criteria set, a change of use to large and medium hotels must meet a minimum 4-star rating, while a change of use to small hotels, self-catering and guesthouses, must meet a minimum Seychelles Secret Gold rating.

Lions International will work with Seychelles to establish a vision hospital among many other areas of cooperation, the district governor, Dr Moez Manji, said on Monday. Manji made the announcement after he paid a courtesy call to Vice President Ahmed Afif at State House. «With the expertise that we have, we will be able to mobilise grants in support of this hospital,» he said. Manji said that this will be a long process of a year or two, «depending on how fast we can set up the MoU (memorandum of understanding).» The other area the club wants to work closely with the government on is paediatric or childhood cancer. He explained that with the hospital, they will be able to detect cancer in children early. Lions' Clubs International is a global service organisation that works to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need. Seychelles together with Kenya and Ethiopia falls under the 411 district - whose main areas of service to the community are vision, hunger, and the environment, among others. Another area that the club is interested in working on is that of youth development and empowerment and Manji said, «A lot of them can slip into drug abuse, due to depression and many other challenges.» He added: «With the lifestyle of the world as it is now, is very challenging, and if we do not handle it correctly we find that we are losing a lot of the youth in the wrong manner.» As Lions International has many programmes dealing with the prevention of drug abuse, Manji explained that the Lion's Club of Seychelles is planning to donate SCR 25,000 ($1,700) as a start-up to this problem. Meanwhile, for his first visit to Seychelles, Manji and his delegation had the chance to take part in the World Diabetes Walk, which Lions Clubs held recently, which he said was to create awareness about diabetes - which is one of their global causes - and the environment. Lions Clubs started working in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, nine years ago. While expressing satisfaction at his visit and the activities held, Manji revealed that he has left certain goals the local clubs will need to achieve after he leaves.

New areas  of collaboration such as climate finance, coastal erosion social isssues, conducting a functioning review of the public service to boost efficiency renewable energy sector are some of the subjects discussed between the Seychelles' government and the World Bank on Monday. The World Bank regional vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa, Victoria Kwakwa, met with the Minister for Finance, National Planning and Trade, Naadir Hassan, following a site visit on Sunday. Kwakwa and her delegation visited a number of places based on the East coast of Mahe and these were different sites for projects meant to curb the effects of erosion caused by climate change that are being financed by the World Bank. The first phase of the project which covers the cost of a 300-metre stretch of coastline at a cost of SCR2.1 million ($152,000) has been completed. Speaking during the meeting with the Hassan on Monday, Kwakwa described the field visit as eye-opening, especially to the effects of climate change. «It is very important for us to hear from our client, in particular the voice of small island states. The World Bank is ready to support Seychelles,» she said. Hassan noted the «importance of working with development partners such as the World Bank, especially in the coordination and alignment of objectives, given that resources are scarce.»    Kwakwa is expected to be in Seychelles until November 19. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, is vulnerable to climatic conditions as many infrastructural developments have been done along coastlines to cater to the needs of the tourism industry, the top pillar of its economy.

India's capital New Delhi switched schools to online classes Monday until further notice as worsening toxic smog surged past 60 times the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum. Various piecemeal government initiatives have failed to measurably address the problem, with the smog blamed for thousands of premature deaths each year and particularly impacting the health of children and the elderly. Pollution extended across a swathe of northern India -- with the tourists at the Taj Mahal in Agra snapping photographs of the barely visible white marble monument -- and choked residents of Lahore in neighbouring Pakistan. «My eyes have been burning for the last few days,» said rickshaw puller Subodh Kumar, 30. «Pollution or no pollution, I have to be on the road, where else will I go?» he said, pausing from eating at a roadside stall. «We don't have an option to stay indoors... our livelihood, food, and life -- everything is in the open.» The city is blanketed in poisonous smog each year, primarily blamed on stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring regions to clear their fields for ploughing, as well as factories and traffic fumes. A report by The New York Times this month, based on samples collected over five years, revealed dangerous fumes also spewing from a power plant incinerating rubbish from landfill garbage mountains. - 'Hazardous' - Levels of PM2.5 pollutants -- dangerous cancer-causing microparticles that enter the bloodstream through the lungs -- peaked at 921 micrograms per cubic metre at midday on Monday, according to IQAir pollution monitors, with a reading above 15 in a 24-hour period considered unhealthy by the WHO. Individual monitoring stations noted even higher levels -- one government-run monitor recorded PM2.5 pollutants at 1117 micrograms, 74 times the WHO maximum. Dense grey and acrid smog smothered New Delhi, with IQAir listing conditions as «hazardous». Primary schools were ordered to cease in-person classes on Thursday, with a raft of further restrictions imposed on Monday, including limiting diesel-powered trucks and construction. Authorities hope by keeping children at home, traffic will be reduced. The government urged children and the elderly, as well as those with lung or heart issues «to stay indoors as much as possible». Air filters are too expensive for many, and most do not have homes they can effectively seal from the misery of dangerous foul-smelling air. «The rich ministers and officials can afford to stay indoors, not ordinary people like us,» said rickshaw taxi driver Rinku Kumar, 45. «Who can even afford an air purifier when paying monthly bills is a challenge?» India's Supreme Court ordered the authorities to take «all possible» action. «It is the constitutional obligation of the central government and state governments to ensure citizens live in a pollution free atmosphere,» the court said. - 'Choking death trap' - Long-time Delhi resident William Dalrymple said he was shocked to «find the city embalmed in an all-enveloping burial shroud of pollution», he wrote on social media. «I've never seen anything like this in 40 years of living here,» the Scottish historian wrote, saying the «most fascinating of cities» was «currently a tragic, choking death trap». Critics say arguments between rival politicians heading neighbouring states -- as well as between central and state-level authorities -- have compounded the problem. Politicians are accused of not wanting to anger key figures in their constituencies, particularly powerful farming groups. But Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who uses one name, blamed surrounding states for not stopping farmers burning the stubble. «The people of Delhi are really troubled, they can't breathe,» she told reporters Monday. «I kept receiving phone calls the entire night from people who had to admit their elderly parents to hospitals for breathing issues, or parents looking for steroid inhalers for their children,» she added. «Why? Because stubble is being burnt all over the country, in every state, everywhere, and the national government isn't doing anything. Today, the entire north of India has been pushed into a medical emergency». Delhi and the surrounding metropolitan area, home to more than 30 million people, consistently tops world rankings for air pollution in winter. © Agence France-Presse

Sweden on Monday began sending some five million pamphlets to residents urging them to prepare for the possibility of war, as neighbouring Finland launched a new preparedness website. Both Sweden and Finland dropped decades of military non-alignment to join the US-led military alliance NATO in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since the start of the war, Stockholm has repeatedly urged Swedes to prepare both mentally and logistically for the possibility of war, citing the serious security situation in its vicinity. The booklet «If Crisis or War Comes», sent by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), contains information about how to prepare for emergencies such as war, natural disasters, or cyber attacks. It is an updated version of a pamphlet that Sweden has issued five times since World War II. The previous version sent out in 2018 made headlines, as it was the first time it had been sent to Swedes since 1961 at the height of the Cold War. «The security situation is serious and we all need to strengthen our resilience to face various crises and ultimately war,» MSB director Mikael Frisell said in a statement. The 32-page document outlines with simple illustrations the threats facing the Nordic nation, including military conflict, natural disasters, and cyber and terror attacks. It includes tips for preparedness, such as keeping non-perishable food in stock and storing water. MSB said the updated 2024 version had a stronger focus on preparation for war. Over the next two weeks 5.2 million copies will be sent to Swedish households. The brochure is available in print in both Swedish and English and digital versions are available in several other languages -- including Arabic, Farsi, Ukrainian, Polish, Somali and Finnish. Sweden's former army chief Micael Byden alarmed many of his compatriots in January when he urged them to consider their own preparedness. «Swedes have to mentally prepare for war,» he said. Also on Monday, the government in Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia, launched a website gathering information on preparedness for different crises. © Agence France-Presse

As Black Friday approaches, Seychellois entrepreneurs are being asked to seize the opportunity to promote their businesses and the products they have to offer. The chief executive of the Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA), Lisa Lautoy, made the statement during a recent press conference in which she called on businesses to participate in the event from November 28 to 30. «Black Friday is usually celebrated on the last Friday of November, this will be on the 29th this year, when businesses take the opportunity to promote their products, this is usually through mega sales. Here in Seychelles, we are not asking businesses to do mega sales. However, this is a day to promote your business, so seize the opportunity and make the most of the day,» said Lautoy. She explained that apart from sales, businesses could use other tactics to promote their business «For example, if your shop usually closes at 4.30 pm or 5 pm, if possible, on that day especially if you are in the town area you should keep your shop open longer.» Lautoy said, «This year, ESA will be collaborating with the Shreeji Group, which has different businesses under its portfolio such as Ani Décor, Gopi supermarket, and Lakshmi, that will be holding a three-day mega sale event at Camion Hall. Given that we are doing this event in town, we encourage other businesses to take this opportunity and extend their opening hours.» She stated that most often people complain about the opening hours of shops especially in the town area given that a large majority of customers end up working around the same time that the shops close. Lautoy said this opportunity would surely allow these businesses to establish contact with more clients and they can even market their products for the upcoming festive season.

Pope Francis for the first time tackled claims of Israel's ongoing «genocide» of Palestinians in Gaza in a forthcoming book, urging further investigation into whether Israel's actions meet the definition. Titled «Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World», the book includes his latest and most forthright intervention into the more than year-long war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. «According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide,» the pontiff wrote in extracts published on Sunday in Italy's La Stampa daily. «This should be studied carefully to determine whether (the situation) corresponds to the technical definition formulated by jurists and international organisations,» he added. The Argentine pontiff has frequently deplored the number of victims of Israel's operations in Gaza, with the territory's Hamas-run health ministry putting the toll at least 43,846 people, most of them civilians. But his call for a probe marks the first time he has publicly used the term genocide -- without endorsing it -- in the context of Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territory. On Thursday, a United Nations Special Committee judged Israel's conduct of warfare in Gaza «consistent with the characteristics of genocide», accusing the country of «using starvation as a method of war». Its conclusions have already been condemned by Israel's key backer the United States. It is, however, not the first time that Israel has been the subject of genocide accusations since the start of the war. South Africa has brought a genocide case before the International Court of Justice with the support of several countries, including Turkey, Spain and Mexico. Francis has also frequently called for the return of the Israeli hostages taken by Palestinian Islamist militants on October 7. That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people on the Israeli side, the majority of them civilians, according to an AFP count based on Israeli official figures. Hamas fighters also took 251 people hostage that day, with 97 still held in the Palestinian territory including 34 the Israeli army says are dead. On Thursday, the 87-year-old pope received 16 former hostages freed after months of captivity in Gaza. © Agence France-Presse

An innovative initiative combining coral restoration, recycling, at the same time gearing children's interest in marine life and its conservation, is set to be implemented on Praslin, the second most populated island of the Seychelles archipelago. The project is the brainchild of Vicky Durand, a diving instructor and coral conservation specialty instructor, who is the recent recipient of the Ocean Innovation Award of the Danny Faure Foundation. The award was created to encourage ocean innovation, seeking to encourage Seychellois emerging ocean leaders to design innovative solutions to tackle ocean challenges that Seychelles faces.  As a reward, Durand won a five-day learning visit at the Nekton Foundation headquarters in the United Kingdom, where she will work with Nekton's personnel and its partners with specialist skills to further advance her project. The Nekton Foundation is a not-for-profit research foundation that works on scientific exploration and ocean protection. SNA caught up with Durand, to learn more about her winning the former President Danny Faure's Ocean Innovation Award, the project – Save the Ocean, the role of the project in the Blue Economy, as well as children's involvement in marine conservation.   SNA: Tell us about the Ocean Innovation Award. VD: Winning the inaugural award for 2024 from the Danny Faure Foundation is truly an honour. It highlights the dedication and impact of the project in advancing coral restoration and marine conservation. I'm excited about the upcoming educational visit to Nekton headquarters in the UK, scheduled for July 20, 2024, as my prize for winning such an award. This visit presents a fantastic opportunity to deepen my understanding of ocean research and innovation, as well as to explore potential collaborations that could further enhance our conservation efforts.   SNA: Why such a project? VD: As a devoted diving professional with over 18 years of experience, the underwater world has been my enduring passion, a sanctuary of wonder that has profoundly shaped my life. The countless hours spent beneath the waves have revealed the heartbreaking truth of our vanishing corals, their vibrant hues fading into a haunting memory. This profound loss ignited a fire within me, compelling me to establish the project:  save the ocean. Our coral reefs are not just underwater spectacles; they are the lifeblood of our tourism and fisheries industries, vital to the prosperity and sustainability of our coastal communities. The urgency to act is now more pressing than ever. We stand at a critical juncture where our actions, or lack thereof, will determine the fate of these irreplaceable ecosystems.  Time is of the essence, and we must cast aside complacency and excuses. Together, we must channel our collective passion and commitment into tangible efforts to revive and protect our corals. Let us unite in this noble cause, driven by the belief that through our dedication and perseverance, we can breathe life back into our oceans and ensure that their splendour endures for generations to come. Durand is a diving instructor and coral conservation specialty instructor. (Vicky Durand) Photo License: All Rights Reserved    SNA: Why did you choose children from Praslin and are you working with only them? VD: The youths of Praslin will play a central role, contributing significantly to their community through this project. However, as Seychellois, we all share a collective responsibility for our ocean. We welcome anyone who wishes to join us, provided they undergo the requisite training. Together, let us unite in a shared commitment to protect and restore our marine environment.   SNA: How will the project be sustained? VD: Our Save the Ocean Project will be sustained through a multifaceted approach. Firstly, we prioritise community engagement and education, fostering awareness among local communities and schools about coral reefs' significance and the threats they face. Secondly, we're establishing vital partnerships with governmental bodies, NGOs and businesses to secure funding, conduct research, and implement conservation initiatives collaboratively. Thirdly, we're committed to long-term monitoring and maintenance of our artificial reef, ensuring its health and effectiveness through regular upkeep and structural assessments. Additionally, by promoting our reef as a sustainable tourism attraction, we aim to generate revenue that funds ongoing conservation efforts and supports local economies. Through policy advocacy, continuous innovation in coral restoration techniques, and staying abreast of scientific advancements, we strive to safeguard marine biodiversity effectively and ensure the longevity of our conservation efforts. Durand said the reefs are the lifeblood of Seychelles' tourism and fisheries industries. communities. (Vicky Durand) Photo License: All Rights Reserved    SNA: How is your project linked to the Blue Economy? VD: It is intricately linked to the Blue Economy through several impactful avenues. By creating an artificial reef and promoting it as an eco-tourism attraction, we directly contribute to local economies by attracting tourists who support coastal businesses. Our efforts in coral restoration not only enhance biodiversity and support sustainable fishing practices but also contribute to marine biotechnology through innovative research in conservation techniques. Protecting coral reefs also strengthens coastal resilience against climate change impacts, benefitting both communities and infrastructure. Moreover, our educational initiatives foster awareness about marine conservation, promoting a stewardship mindset essential for sustainable use of marine resources. In these ways, our project aligns closely with the principles of the Blue Economy, aiming to sustainably utilise and conserve marine resources while fostering economic growth in coastal regions.   SNA: Tell us more about the children's involvement in the project and their activities around scuba diving. VD: In July of last year, I established the AQUAKIDZ swimming team with a primary goal: ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn swimming, regardless of their initial skill level. As we mark our first anniversary this July, I'm proud that AQUAKIDZ has become the largest swimming team on Praslin Island, offering comprehensive lessons from beginner to advanced levels. Beyond promoting fitness and health, our team encourages positive youth engagement. AQUAKIDZ is uniquely geared towards preparing young participants to eventually join the Save Our Ocean project, fostering a generation passionate about marine conservation and equipped with vital swimming and diving skills for safe and impactful ocean exploration. At AQUAKIDZ swimming team, our activities extend beyond swimming practice. We engage in creative learning about diverse ocean species and their significance through art, music, and storytelling. This approach effectively spreads awareness among our members, fostering a deep understanding of marine conservation and the critical role each species plays in our oceans. 

The UN's climate chief urged G20 leaders on Saturday to push COP29 talks towards a deal to raise money for developing nations as diplomats struggled to find common ground in marathon negotiations. Negotiators worked through the night in efforts to produce a new draft deal before ministers arrive next week for the final days of the COP29 talks in a Baku sports stadium, but differences remained. «There is a long way to go, but everyone is very aware of the stakes, at the halfway point in the COP,» UN climate chief Simon Stiell said in a statement. Stiell appealed for leaders of the Group of 20, which includes the world's top economies and polluters, to weigh in when they meet in Brazil on Monday and Tuesday. «As G20 Leaders head to Rio de Janeiro, the world is watching and expecting strong signals that climate action is core business for the world's biggest economies,» Stiell said. «G20 Leaders must signal loud and clear that international cooperation is still the best and only chance humanity has to survive global heating,» he said. Some developing countries, which are least responsible for global greenhouse gas emissions, want an annual commitment of $1.3 trillion to help them adapt to climate impact and transition to clean energy. The figure is well above what donors including the United States, the European Union and Japan currently pay. But the negotiations are stuck over a final figure, the type of financing, and who should pay, with developed countries wanting China and wealthy Gulf states to join the list of donors. «We know we need at least 1.3 trillion to be committed to the low and middle income countries. And that has to be the figure at the end,» Irish climate minister Eamon Ryan said earlier this week. «The question is what's that made up of,» he said. Rich nations, which face their own economic challenges and political pressure following years of high inflation, are loath to commit large amounts of money from their public budgets alone. Buried in debt, developing countries do not want the money to come in the form of loans. - 'Much to do' - The latest draft deal was 25 pages long, and still contained a raft of options. Samir Bejanov, deputy lead negotiator of COP29 host Azerbaijan, said nations were given more time to produce a new text later on Saturday. «There is still much, much to do,» Bejanov said in a press conference. «Over the last few days, some people have doubted whether collectively we can deliver. It's time for the negotiators to start proving them wrong,» he added. Observers described a tense atmosphere in the negotiating rooms in Azerbaijan's capital. «Stark divisions between North and South prevent negotiators from tackling the main issues at hand,» said Iskander Erzini Vernoit, director of the Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, a Morocco-based think tank. Tensions also emerged after some nations specified how much they should be getting from any deal. A bloc of least-developed nations, mostly from Africa, asked for $220 billion while small-island states at threat from rising seas want $39 billion. Friederike Roder, a vice president at the non-profit Global Citizen, said the latest draft contains a «jungle of options» that makes «insufficient progress or even backtracks» on some key points. «What is urgently needed is real political momentum and energy from world leaders as they convene for the G20 summit in Rio,» she said. © Agence France-Presse  

For the second consecutive year, the Seychelles' Vallee de Mai nature reserve has received the Tripexpert Experts' Choice Award, solidifying its reputation as a must-visit destination in Seychelles, loved by nature enthusiasts and travellers seeking unique experiences. The Seychelles Island Foundation (SIF) said in its newsletter, «Our »Garden of Eden,« with one of the world's last intact palm forests, transports visitors to prehistoric conditions of the Seychelles islands. The Vallee de Mai is much more than its aesthetic value, for many endemic species, benefit from the ecological processes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.» The Tripexpert Experts' Choice Award recognises the world's best travel locations and organisations yearly based solely on professional reviews from leading travel publications such as Frommer's, Travel + Leisure, and The New York Times. The SIF said this accolade reflects the opinions of seasoned travel writers who have experienced and thoroughly evaluated destinations worldwide. SIF added that apart from the Tripexpert award, Vallee de Mai has consistently been celebrated by visitors themselves, having won the TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Award for many consecutive years. This dual recognition from industry experts and the travelling public underscores Vallee de Mai's status as a beloved destination in Seychelles and worldwide. «The investment into the conservation of our natural heritage, continues to reap benefits, with Vallee de Mai recognised as a shining jewel of Seychelles, attracting thousands of visitors each year, highlighting the need to balance sustainable tourism and preservation of the site,» said SIF. 

G20 leaders gather in Brazil on Monday for a G20 summit set to be dominated by differences over wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and implications of Donald Trump's White House return. Security considerations -- always high at such meetings -- were elevated further after a failed bomb attack late Wednesday outside Brazil's Supreme Court in Brasilia. Police were probing the two blasts as a possible «terrorist act» committed by a Brazilian perpetrator, whose death was the sole casualty. The summit venue is in Rio de Janeiro, in the city's stunning bayside museum of modern art, which is the epicenter of a massive police deployment designed to keep the public well away. Brazil's leftwing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be using the opportunity to highlight his position as a leader championing Global South issues while also being courted by the West. That role will be tested in the months and years ahead as Latin America and other regions navigate «America First» policies promised by Donald Trump when he becomes US president in January. At this G20, it will be outgoing President Joe Biden who will represent the world's biggest economy, but as a lame duck the other leaders will be looking beyond. Just before the Rio summit, on Sunday, Biden will make a stop in Brazil's Amazon to underline the fight against climate change -- another issue that Trump is hostile towards. - Putin absent - The G20 meet is happening at the same time as the UN's COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan -- and as the world experiences dramatic climate phenomena, including in Brazil where flooding, drought and forest fires have taken heavy tolls. At the last G20, in India, the leaders called for a tripling of renewable energy sources by the end of the decade, but without explicitly calling for an end to the use of fossil fuels. One invited leader who declined to come to Rio is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said his presence could «wreck» the gathering. Putin denied an International Criminal Court warrant out against him, for Russia's actions in Ukraine, was a factor in his decision. His foreign minister will represent Russia in Rio. China's President Xi Jinping, however, will be attending, and will even extend his stay after the summit to make an official visit to Brasilia on Wednesday. China is Brazil's biggest trading partner, and the two countries have been touting themselves as mediators to help end Russia's war in Ukraine, so far without success. That conflict, along with Israel's offensives in Gaza and Lebanon, will loom large at the summit. «We are negotiating with all the countries on the final declaration's passages about geopolitics... so that we can reach consensual language on those two issues,» Brazil's chief diplomatic official for the G20, Mauricio Lyrio, said. Those conflicts will be «the elephant in the room,» Flavia Loss, international relations specialist at the School of Sociology and Politics of Sao Paulo (FESPSP), told AFP. But that should not prevent Brazil from finding consensus on issues that it has made priorities under its G20 presidency, she said, such as the fight against hunger or taxing the world's super-rich. Lula, heading up Latin America's biggest economy, set out his line in May when he said: «A lot of people insist on dividing the world between friends and enemies. But the more vulnerable are not interested in simplist dichotomies.» - Tax on billionaires - The Rio G20 summit will open on Monday with Lula officially launching a «Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty». The initiative aims to rally nations and international bodies to free up financing for that campaign, or to replicate programs that have previously had success. And on the issue of taxing billionaires, the G20 countries already declared a desire to cooperate to bring that about, as set out by their finance ministers who met in Rio in June. It remained to be seen, though, whether the leaders at the summit would pursue that goal, and on what terms. Following the summit, Brazil hands over the G20 presidency to South Africa. © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) commissioned a new vessel on Friday that will be used for monitoring and identifying illegal activities in the Seychelles waters. The vessel «Surveillance 2,» which costs $920,000, has been donated by the Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project, known as SWIOFish3, a project that has now come to an end. The commissioning of the new vessel was done in a small ceremony at the Victoria Fishing Port. The Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-Francois Ferarri, said that the addition of the new vessel will help confront unsustainable fishing practices and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. «The Mahe Plateau, a critical area for biodiversity and fisheries, has been under immense pressure from unsustainable practices,» he said. Ferrari added: «Surveillance 2 will help us identify and apprehend those who exploit our marine resources unlawfully, and it will send a clear message that we are committed to safeguarding our Seychelles' waters.» Ferarri described the vessel as one of «hope, handcrafted and equipped with the latest technology to protect our waters and ensure the sustainable use of our marine resource.» Surveillance 2, which will have a crew of four, led by skipper Erol Raguin, has been built in the Philippines, by a company called Stoneworks Specialists. It took nine months to complete. It was delivered to Seychelles in June just before the SWIOfish3 project came to an end. The crew of four for the vessel. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  The director for Blue Economy, Terrence Crea, handed over the keys of the vessel to the chief executive of SFA, Jan Robinson, during the ceremony. Robinson shared a few words of thanks to everyone who made the purchase of this vessel possible and said, «This comes at an opportune time, where we've seen a threefold increase this year alone, in the amount of IUU that has been detected and apprehended in our waters.» He added that the vessel will greatly help in dealing with that. Before taking on the seas, the vessel was blessed by Deacon Aubrey Pon-Wayeo of the Roman Catholic Church.

As part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week through a collaboration with businesses from the Chengdu  Province in China, the Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA) is planning a trade fair for the benefit of Seychellois entrepreneurs. The trade fair will coincide with the first inaugural flight from Chengdu, a direct and non-stop charter flight operated by Sichuan Airlines, due in Seychelles next week. Around 34 Chinese businesses are expected to come to Seychelles on that flight to showcase what they have to offer and essentially establish a more direct link to Seychellois businesses. The chief executive of ESA, Lisa Lautoy, explained that there have been reports from Seychellois businesses that they experience certain difficulties when attempting to contact suppliers in China. «They want direct contact without having to go through an intermediary. We feel that this is an opportune moment for these businesses to build up on these contacts and analyse different kinds of new equipment available. This may in turn help the businesses here to become more innovative, especially in regards to product development,» she said. Lautoy said, «The exhibitors from China have shown a lot of interest in displaying agricultural equipment, however, there will be representatives of different sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and hoteliers, beekeeping as well as crafts.» She confirmed that apart from the Chinese representatives, there will also be the presence of several local businesses at the fair. «These are businesses that are not common, people are not aware of them, so we are giving them the opportunity to showcase what they have to offer. We will also have two local companies that aim to facilitate importation from China present,» she added.  The trade fair will be held at the Berjaya Beauvallon Bay Hotel starting Thursday, November  21 to 23. The press conference panel comprised Jeevan Palani, CEO Enterprise Seychelles Agency, Lautoy and Annabelle Adrienne. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY    Global Entrepreneurship Week In regards to the Global Entrepreneurship Week, the director general for Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation from the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Jeevan Palani, said that apart from the trade fair, there will also be a variety of other activities organised. «On Monday, we will have a financial awareness fair that will explore different funding opportunities available in Seychelles. There will be bank representatives, certain government entities that have funds to offer, ESA with the seed capital and several other agencies. The ministry is looking at different issues that entrepreneurs face and one of them is access to finance. This will be from 10.30 am to 3 pm at Camion Hall.» Palani added that on Tuesday there will be a Crowd Funding Awareness Forum that will specifically target students. «We will have two speakers - one who is an established business in Mauritius who runs a crowd-funding firm. He will talk about what they do, what they offer, and what the business is exactly. The other speaker is a Seychellois who has benefited from crow-funding,» he explained. Next Tuesday, there will also be an Impact Assessment Workshop that is being done in partnership with the UNDP.  Palani explained that «this will be for entrepreneurs and government officials, to explain the impact that businesses have, especially focusing on the sustainable development goals.» The workshop will be a closed event held at the Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS). «Apart from the workshop, we will also have an open day for the SBS on Tuesday. This will be for entrepreneurs, where they will be able to see what kind of facilities for product testing are available at the SBS,» he added. Palani explained that the rest of the week will be the trade fair and confirmed that the ministry had also thought of the people based in the Praslin and La Digue region. «We will also be doing an SME fair on Praslin; this will be on Saturday. We want people from Praslin to have access to this information,» he added. 

Seychelles has officially begun its review of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and targets regarding biodiversity through a first stakeholder meeting on Wednesday. These consultations are meant to help formulate national biodiversity targets aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The NBSAP sets specific activities and targets to help achieve the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and these plans are typically implemented through partnerships with conservation organisations. The species and habitats highlighted in the NBSAP are considered government priorities, often drawing attention and action when they are under threat. However, it is important to note that NBSAPs do not have legal status, and the species and habitats listed are not automatically protected unless covered by other laws or regulations.  The national focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity for Seychelles, Indira Gamatis, told reporters, «The process is not starting at zero, we had already done a review previously and despite certain delays, we are now on track to deliver on our commitment to the convention. At the moment we are working on our national targets, and this will be followed by the continuation of procedures to hopefully complete our NBSAP by next year.» Around 40 participants from government institutions, non-governmental organisations, and biodiversity experts worked in groups to address KMGBF targets in three main areas and these are risk reduction, rehabilitation, and implementation facilitation. The workshop included interactive sessions where stakeholders identified key terms for aligning Seychelles' national targets with the KMGBF and proposed wording for these targets. This review process is being funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF-EAS) project. The initiative is designed to accelerate actions to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) over the next decade. The project focuses on four key areas; aligning National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP), improving monitoring systems, ensuring policy coherence, and securing biodiversity finance. It is being carried through a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (MACCE). The work is guided by the Biodiversity Conservation and Management Division (BCM) and Seychelles' national CBD focal point. As part of the first phase of the project, Seychelles will align its national biodiversity targets with the KMGBF, laying the groundwork for a new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. This plan will integrate the KMGBF's objectives and relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), developed through a comprehensive approach involving both government and society. Seychelles previously had two NBSAPs in place, from 2016 until 2020 and it was in line with the Aichi biodiversity targets which had been adopted in Japan in 2010. The new NBSAP will take a broader approach, not only focusing on the conservation of ecosystems and species but also detailing how to use natural resources in a more sustainable manner. In addition, it will address other factors impacting biodiversity, including resource mobilisation and capacity building.

Azerbaijan's «doors are still open», the COP29 presidency's lead negotiator said Thursday after France's ecology minister pulled out of the UN climate summit over «unacceptable» remarks by President Ilham Aliyev. Aliyev used a speech at COP on Wednesday to attack Paris for alleged colonial «crimes» and «human rights violations» in its overseas territories, notably in the troubled Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia. French Environment Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher slammed the remarks as «deplorable» and said she was cancelling her trip to Baku. Azerbaijan's leader was using «the fight against climate change for a shameful personal agenda,» she added, with relations between the two countries already frosty. But the COP29 presidency's lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev insisted Thursday that Azerbaijan had fostered «an inclusive process». «We have opened our doors to everybody to come to engage in very constructive, fruitful discussions. Our doors are still open,» he added. Despite her pullout, Pannier-Runacher said the team of French negotiators in Baku would not relent in their efforts to do a deal «to protect the planet and its populations» from climate change. Relations between Paris and Baku are tense over France's longtime support for Azerbaijan's arch-rival Armenia. Azerbaijan defeated Armenia in a lightning offensive last year when it retook the breakaway Armenian-populated region of Nagorno-Karabakh -- leading to an exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians. © Agence France-Presse

Citrus growers in South Africa are among the businesses most nervous that duty- and quota-free exports to the United States could be scrapped next year when Donald Trump returns to the White House. The fruits are among 1,800 products across 32 African countries benefitting from preferential market access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), with companies in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana reaping the most dollars in profits. But with president-elect Trump having vowed to impose at least a 10-percent tariff on all imports to the United States, there is no certainty that AGOA will be renewed. Analysts say the legislation, passed in 2000 and set to expire next year, could be modified if not withdrawn altogether, with potential negative ramifications for companies and jobs across Africa. «We need this competitive edge,» Justin Chadwick, CEO of the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA), which also represents Zimbabwe and Swaziland-based orchards, told AFP. «Should South Africa be removed from AGOA, thousands of rural jobs could be impacted, as well as over a billion rand ($55.5 million) in export revenue could be lost,» he said. Another South African citrus company told AFP on condition of anonymity that if AGOA were not renewed, it would «kill» their business, which employed more than 3,000 people and exported an average of 350 containers of sorbet products per year to the United States. - 'Hope for the best' - The automotive sector could also feel the heat if AGOA is shelved, although some companies are betting that US consumers might accept higher prices. «I don't foresee any major changes in the buying patterns of Americans around the products that we supply,» said Ken Manners, managing director at SP Metal Forgings Group, a South African company that exports vehicle parts to the United States. Even if tariffs were imposed, «it certainly wouldn't be life-changing in terms of our ability to supply competitively,» he told AFP. «The product base that we supply in the US is very difficult to source anywhere else, so ultimately even if the US put higher tariffs, the US consumer would end up paying for it.» Whether AGOA is renewed or not, it should not have much impact on the broader South African economy, analysts said, though companies should still prepare for changes. «On the whole of the economy we're not even talking one percent,» said Johannesburg-based economist Dawie Roodt. In any case, «it won't be business as usual,» said Ronak Gopaldas of the London-based consultancy Signal Risk. «The reality is that Trump and his economic policies are unpredictable, volatile and erratic.» «So I would say an effective strategy is to expect the worst and hope for the best,» he said. - 'AGOA-lite' - Companies in Ghana, Kenya and Lesotho also benefit significantly from AGOA, especially in the textile industry. Mukhisa Kituyi, a Kenyan politician who served as secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, said he believed the next US administration could push for a renegotiated AGOA rather than a withdrawal. The United States wanted stricter «third country rules of origin» to prevent, for example, companies from bringing textiles from China or India, stitching them in Africa, and selling them as African clothes. «If they tighten the rules of origin, particularly on textiles and cars –- as Trump is obsessed with the manufacturing of particular cars -– we can see a diluted AGOA-lite going forward,» Kituyi said. For Lesotho, losing AGOA «would deal a massive blow, potentially leading to the near collapse of the textile and apparel industry», which is the kingdom’s second largest employer, trade ministry official Litseko Fiee said. However, the government is optimistic the deal will be renewed and possibly even extended, he said. Another question mark surrounds exports of critical minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Angola. While the products are not eligible under AGOA, central African countries have received particular attention and investment under President Joe Biden. «Are these relations going to persist... or will we see a walking back, a radical overhaul, on some of the gains made?» Gopaldas said. Trump will probably «ignore Africa», according to Roodt, unless countries «get his attention for good or bad reasons». A determining factor would likely be whether countries are seen as geopolitically aligned with the United States. This could be an issue for African governments that have shown support towards Russia and China or criticised Israel. Having accused Israel of «genocide» in Gaza at the UN's top court, South Africa in particular will have to «walk a tightrope,» Gopaldas said, «if the US becomes more explicit about being 'with us or against us'.» © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles has revised its national qualifications framework to enhance education and training standards in the country aiming to create more flexible and inclusive pathways for learners and employers. The Minister for Education, Dr. Justin Valentin, launched the revised Seychelles National Qualifications Framework (SNFQ) virtually in the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACFQ-II) at a workshop taking place at the Savoy Resort and Spa, on Wednesday. The workshop, being held from November 13-14, is a forum for various stakeholders in the development of micro-credentials on the continent and how it may provide opportunities to develop the respective workforces. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) defines micro-credentials as «a record of focused learning achievement verifying what the learner knows, understands or can do.» This includes assessment based on clearly defined standards and qualifications awarded by a trusted provider. In his address, Valentin explained that such qualifications offer «an agile solution to an ever-changing landscape.» Through the discussions in the workshop, it was shown that since many people in the actual labour force later decide to enrol in various short courses, this is helping to build capacity and provide the labour market with the skills it required. This is why Seychelles has now included micro-credentials in its SNQF. Prior to including micro-credentials in its SNQF, Seychelles had carried out a survey to determine how the qualifications can enhance skill development, employability, and lifelong learning. «All forms of learning are validated and can contribute meaningfully to personal and professional development,» said Valentin. In addition to participants from Seychelles, representatives from various African countries, including Senegal, Ghana and Somalia, were present. During the two days, the participants discussed the impact of micro-credentials, share good practices as well as discuss how it will help respond to the growing demand in «green» skills and digital transformation. The fourth ACFQ-II forum is being held under the theme of 'Micro-credentials for better opportunities' and is a collaboration between the African Union Regional Economic Communities and the Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA). 

Seychelles has launched the second national workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will help the island nation in its implementation of the AfCFTA agreement. Seychelles ratified the AfCFTA agreement in 2021, which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business people and investments, while paving the way for accelerating the establishment of a customs union. The first of a series of three workshops took place in September and this second workshop will continue the work done previously. «The workshop today will see us look at the implementation strategy for Seychelles, where we are working with various consultants who will guide us through this process,» said Veronique Brutus, the senior trade officer at the Department of Trade. During the workshop, the draft of the strategy will be presented to participants who will be able to give their opinions and suggestions, to ensure that Seychelles can proceed with the implementation in the best possible way. In his address, the Minister of Finance, National Planning and Trade, Naadri Hassan, said that the National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy for Seychelles will be a critical enabler for Seychelles to effectively engage with and benefit from the AfCFTA. “The development of the Strategy requires a participatory approach to promote consensus building and ownership among the stakeholders to ensure that the needs and interests of different actors are considered. Your constructive participation in this process will help create synergies towards achieving the common objective of implementing the AfCFTA in an effective, inclusive and sustainable manner,” he shared. Hassan stressed that “The effective implementation of the strategy has the ability to enhance Seychelles' potential to foster industrialisation, job creation, and investment, thus enhancing the competitiveness of Seychelles in the African region in the medium to long term. This should be consistent with the National Development Strategy 2024-2028.” Held at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort, several institutions are participating including the Fair Trading Commission, the Seychelles Revenue Commission, and others. The training is being facilitated by representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the German development company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ). The AfCFTA aims at accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa's trading position in the global market by strengthening Africa's common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations. It seeks to create a single market for goods, and services, facilitated by the movement of persons in order to deepen the economic integration of the African continent, create a liberalised market for goods and services, as well as lay the foundation for the establishment of a Continental Customs Union at a later stage. «The AfCFTA opens up a vast market of over 1.3 billion people across 54 countries. For Seychelles, this means access to new customers and partners, allowing our local businesses to expand their reach beyond our shores,» said Sujitha Sekharan, the UNDP programme and operations specialist, in her opening address. «Imagine the potential for our fishermen, farmers, and artisans to sell their products to a wide audience, boosting our economy and creating jobs in the process,» she added. Sekharan shared that this agreement also makes trade between Seychelles and its African neighbours much easier, while also giving Seychellois businesses the opportunity to learn and exchange ideas with other member nations. As of August 2024, 54 African states have signed the agreement while 48 members have ratified it. 

Representatives from educational professional institutions in Seychelles met at the Savoy Resort and Spa on Tuesday to discuss the details of the new Seychelles National Credit Accumulation and Transfer Systems (SNCATS). The document - recently approved by the Seychelles Qualifications Assurance (SQA) board - aimed to support access to education and training and flexibility of learning pathways. For a year, the SQA has been working on the document, which is essentially a tool to facilitate the recognition of credits given in education and training centres. Its aim is to promote the quality and standards of education and training through a system of accreditation, validation and quality assurance. Speaking to the SNA, the SQA chief executive, Fiona Ernesta, explained that the new document is one that takes into account Seychelles' specificities and it includes the policy and the guidelines. «The workshop today is so that those concerned get to understand the document and they will also learn about the elements that we have to train them on on how to use certain aspects of the document,» she said. Following the workshop, SQA will present the document to the Ministry of Education and the Cabinet of Ministers. «By the end of January next year we will go round with our sensitisation programme, as this document touches all the different levels of the population,» said Ernesta. With the implementation of the SNCATS, students will have to learn the process of switching study programmes without having to start from scratch. «As the situation stands now, if a student is following a diploma in business studies at SBSA (Seychelles Business Studies Academy) and they want to go SIAD (Seychelles Institute of Art and Design) and there are certain courses on offer there that I have already completed at SBSA - I still have to repeat those courses,» said Ernesta. With the new SNCATS, learners will no longer have to repeat courses when they switch. To determine whether students are eligible to continue their studies without repeating courses, they will have to assess whether they have similar assessments and credits. Ernesta also explained that for the movement to be possible, the credits should be from recognised institutions. This also applies to those who chose not to complete a course and instead start another one, the other institution they are transferring to may exempt them from re-sitting for those they have already completed. Tertiary education in Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, comprises both university education institutions and non-university tertiary education and training institutions also known as Professional Centres. 

The Seychelles Pension Fund (SPF) officially laid the first brick for the construction of the new Pirates Arms Complex in the centre of the capital of Victoria on Tuesday.  President Wavel Ramkalawan together with the chairperson of the SPF, Shella Mohideen, and the chief executive of the SPF, Nisreen Abdul Majid, each laid a brick in commemoration of the start of the construction, which is expected to be completed by October 2026. The high cost of maintenance of the old Pirate Arms building, which was a landmark in the centre of Victoria on Independence Avenue, resulted in it being torn down and will be replaced by the Pirates Arms complex. In his address, Ramkalawan said, «I want us to move forward, and after looking at the concept and plan on what we are building here, I hope it is a place that brings new hope where everyone can come together. Since Pirates Arms was demolished, there has not been anywhere in Victoria that has been the same, somewhere you could describe as the heart of Victoria. I hope the Pension Fund and the people working on this project can give Victoria its heart back.» President Wavel Ramkalawan laid a brick in commemoration of the start of the construction. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY     Meanwhile, Majid, said, «According to the late historian Tony Mathiot, where we stand today was a reclaimed site of the Long Pier where the first modern tourist establishment which was, a large timber building was opened in 1928 named the Raffles Hotel. Consequently, the timber building was demolished and replaced by a new one. It opened on Saturday, January 12, 1938 under the name of Empire Hotel. In the early 1950's, Empire Hotel became the Pirates Arms. The building was renovated many times during the decades and was finally acquired by the Seychelles Pension Fund in 2006.» The Pirates Arms building was well known among locals and visitors for its restaurant serving popular Creole dishes with renowned local artists also entertaining them. It also had an array of shops and offices. For over 60 years the establishment was the rendezvous point for many and a place to hang out with friends in the heart of Victoria The old building was demolished in 2016 and now eight years later, reconstruction will start after a long journey that included re-drawing of plans and legal battles. To note work on the site had originally begun in late 2017 but stopped after the Planning Authority issued a stop notice in January 2018 because the heavy works were causing the annex building of the Central Bank of Seychelles to tilt. The head of projects at the SPF, Vincent Adam said, «Any issues and concerns that arose in the past have been resolved, and now we are moving forward. These include the piling issue that caused issues for a neighbouring building. The case has been sorted out.» According to the plans, the new complex will have five floors and a basement parking area. The development will include two signature restaurants, three additional food outlets, a food court, diverse retail spaces, conference facilities, a gym, a beauty salon, a barbershop, and a 47-room business hotel. The ground floor will retain the iconic Pirates Arms Restaurant, maintaining its original location and design as a tribute to its historic roots. Adam confirmed that the original tenants were given the right of first refusal and that most of them have indicated their wish to return. «The new building will provide opportunities for individuals and businesses to unlock their potential, for ideas to flourish, and for our community to strengthen and expand. This building will reflect our commitment to excellence, to inclusivity, and to creating opportunities for all who step inside. Hopefully, the new hotel that is planned on the 3rd and 4th floors of the new building will bring back some memories of its past glory,» said Majid. 

Navin Ramgoolam, set for a third stint as prime minister of Mauritius after a landslide election victory, is a veteran politician who has been dogged by controversy in the past. The 77-year-old -- who boasts a political career spanning more than three decades -- is a member of one of the dynasties that have dominated the leadership of Mauritius since it gained independence from Britain in 1968. His father Seewoosagur Ramgoolam led Mauritius to independence and is regarded as the founding father of the Indian Ocean island nation, serving as the first head of government until 1982. Navin Ramgoolam is the longtime leader of the Labour Party and has served twice before as prime minister, between 1995 and 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014. The decisive legislative election win for the Labour-led Alliance of Change will put him back at the helm after 10 years out in the political wilderness. «Navin Ramgoolam's comeback is much more than a political victory: it is a lesson in perseverance and resilience,» said an editorial in L'Express, one of the main newspapers in Mauritius. «He returns to bring together, to mend a fractured country. On this island torn between economic crises and political divisions, he wants to be the unifier.» During the campaign, Ramgoolam charged that Mauritius, regarded as one of the most stable and wealthiest democracies in Africa, had been taken over by a group of «mafiosi». «They act as if Mauritius belonged to them and interfere in institutions,» he said. His promises of change resonated with an electorate concerned about political and economic stability, with many facing a cost-of-living crisis. «The priority of a possible Alliance of Change government is the restoration of democracy, the revival of the economy, the reduction in the cost of living, the fight against drugs,» he said during the campaign. Ramgoolam started out in medicine, qualifying as a doctor in the 1970s and working in Ireland and Britain as well as his home country. During that time, in 1978, he was arrested for drunk driving, pleaded guilty and was fined, according to UK Foreign Office documents cited by Mauritian media. In the 1990s Ramgoolam switched to law in the UK, and also embarked on his political career, becoming leader of the Labour Party in Mauritius. After his two tenures as premier, he suffered defeat at the ballot box in 2014 and again in 2019. He lost in 2019 to Pravind Jugnauth, the man he later vanquished in Sunday's poll. Two months after his December 2014 election loss to Jugnauth's father Anerood Jugnauth, Ramgoolam was arrested on charges including conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and money laundering, but has never been convicted. He has denounced the accusations against him as the «politics of revenge».  

The UK will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 81 percent on 1990 levels by 2035, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday, as his government ramps up its ambitions to help curb climate change. The new target is the latest policy change in this area by Starmer's new Labour government, which took power in July. It follows criticism that the previous Conservative administration under Rishi Sunak was failing to deliver on the so-called green agenda. Ex-prime minister Boris Johnson had committed in 2021 to curb such emissions by 78 percent over the same period compared to 1990. Starmer unveiled the revised target at the start of the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he is one of the only G20 leaders to show up. The summit has been overshadowed by the re-election in the United States of longtime climate change sceptic Donald Trump, as well as new warnings that 2024 is on track to break temperature records. Starmer said Britain was «building on our reputation as a climate leader» and that it has «a critical role to play». «I've had a series of meetings here at COP this week because this government recognises that the world stands at a critical juncture in the climate crisis,» he said. «There is no national security, there is no economic security, there is no global security without climate security.» - 'Feasible' - Sunak faced criticism for a series of moves during his 20-month tenure which were seen as backpedalling on the UK's climate commitments. They included delaying the shift to electric cars and granting a flurry of controversial new oil and gas licences. Labour won the July general election vowing to be more ambitious, promising among other things to decarbonise the UK's electricity grid by 2030. It has since ended an effective Tory ban on new onshore wind projects and ended new oil and gas exploration licences in the North Sea. The new government has also closed the UK's last coal power plant, prompting Starmer to proclaim Tuesday that Britain was the «first G7 economy to phase out coal power». The Climate Change Committee (CCC), the UK's top advisory body on the issue, warned shortly after Labour took power that it must act «fast» to put the country back on track to meet its climate goals. Piers Forster, its interim head, welcomed Tuesday's new «Nationally Determined Contribution», or NDC, target for 2035 as «showing climate leadership». «Our analysis shows that this is a feasible target that will support jobs and investment,» he said, adding it was «informed by the latest science, technological developments, and the UK’s national circumstances». - 'Ahead of the game' - Appearing mindful of accusations of being overly interventionist, Starmer insisted his ministers were not going to «start telling people how to live their lives» to meet the goal. «We're not going to start dictating to people what they do,» he added. However, the UK leader reiterated his view that «inaction and delay» on climate change were not an option. «Make no mistake, the race is on for the clean energy jobs of the future, the economy of tomorrow,» he said. «And I don't want to be in the middle of the pack. I want to get ahead of the game.» Various environmental groups cautiously welcomed the new 2035 target. Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns, Rosie Downes, called it «a step in the right direction but (that it) must be seen as a floor to the level of ambition not a ceiling». «Deeper, faster cuts are needed to help avert the climate collision course we are on,» she added. Meanwhile Forster noted a target was «only as meaningful as the delivery against it». «We need to see further urgent action to speed up deployment of low-carbon solutions such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and tree planting,» he added.

Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan sent a message of congratulations to Navinchandra Ramgoolam on his election as the new Prime Minister of Mauritius, State House said on Tuesday. «I am pleased to extend my warmest congratulations on your election as the new Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius. This mandate from the people of Mauritius is a testament to their trust in your leadership and your vision for a prosperous future,» said Ramkalawan. The head of state of Seychelles said that the two island nations have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations, founded on mutual respect and shared values, and have gained strength and momentum since they established diplomatic ties in 1988. «As close neighbours, our nations are connected through a rich historical, geographical, and cultural bond, as well as a unified vision for regional cooperation, peace, and sustainable development,» said Ramkalawan. He added that Seychelles remains committed to advancing «our shared objectives through the enhancement of both bilateral and multilateral ties. My recent visit to Mauritius in February this year provided a valuable opportunity to deepen our longstanding relationship and establish a solid foundation for future collaboration. The potential for us to learn from one another is immense and I look forward to working together for the benefit of our peoples and the broader Indian Ocean region.» «Moreover, our engagement through the Indian Ocean Commission serves as a vital platform for fostering regional unity and addressing shared challenges. I would like to express my gratitude for the support we have received from Mauritius during Seychelles' current chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Commission,» said Ramkalawan. Mauritius' opposition coalition won the country's election by a landslide, taking all seats in the country's parliament in a major rejection of the current government. According to results released on Monday, the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth failed to get any of the 62 seats available for voters to directly decide on. With the victory, Navin Ramgoolam returns as the Prime Minister of Mauritius. He served as Prime Minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.

Seychelles and Ghana celebrated the centennial anniversary of King Prempeh's return to his country on Monday afternoon with the official opening of the King in Exile exhibition at the National Library Gallery. During the opening ceremony, Ghana's High Commissioner to Seychelles, Francisca Ashietey-Odunton, revealed that her head of state has invited President Wavel Ramkalawan to Ghana. Ramkalawan, who attended the ceremony, will be the guest of honour at a symposium being held at the Palace in Kumasi on November 22. The exhibition, which will remain open until November 19, features textiles and photos. It is a joint collaboration between the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts (SNICHA), the Manhyia Palace Museum, and the Seychelles Consulate in Ghana. The exhibition will remain open until November 19 at the National Library. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY     Speaking at the launch of the exhibition, Secretary General of SNICHA, David Andre, said that during King Prempeh's time in exile, «he demonstrated resilience, grace, and adaptability, strengthening not only his own spirit but also the cultural and historical link between Seychelles and Ghana.» In the year 1896, at the height of British colonialism in Africa, the British government discontinued the office of Asantehene – the absolute ruler of the Ashanti people – and exiled the then-king, Nana Agyeman Prempeh I. Twenty-seven years later, the British allowed Prempeh I to return home in 1926 but initially only permitted him to adopt a lesser title, eventually restoring Ashanti self-rule and the title of Asantehene in 1935. While addressing the guests at the event, Nana Kwasi Boatin, explained how the Ashanti would reminisce «and sing the Seychelles songs in Ghana with a few beers.» Still building links between the two nations, Boatin also pledged to donate books to the newly refurbished National Library « that will tell the history of the Ashanti and continue building on the existing cultural ties.»

Haiti's transitional council has moved to replace Prime Minister Garry Conille, according to an official gazette bulletin seen Sunday by AFP, as a power struggle threatens to plunge the crisis-wracked nation into fresh chaos. The nine-member council's decision, dated for publication on Monday November 11, seeks to push out Conille after just five months in office and replace him with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime. The bulletin says the council agreed by consensus on November 8 to remove Conille, a former UN official and academic tapped in May to lead the struggling Caribbean nation as it confronts soaring, long-standing political instability. Conille, 58, has sent a letter to the transitional council asking for the decision not to be officially published, according to a copy obtained by AFP. The two sides have been locked in a power struggle for weeks, with the council wanting to change the ministers of justice, finance, defense and health against the prime minister's wishes, according to the Miami Herald. And Conille sent the council a letter this week seeking the resignation of three of its members accused of corruption. It was not immediately clear if the council -- whose members represent various political and civil society groups -- even has the power to dismiss Conille. The council is a new body that is not mentioned in the constitution and it was not approved by parliament because Haiti does not have a sitting legislature. The country has not held elections since 2016, widening a political vacuum that has worsened existing security and health crises. The country has long been rocked by gang violence, but conditions sharply worsened at the end of February when armed groups launched coordinated attacks in the capital Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow then-prime minister Ariel Henry. Unelected and unpopular, Henry stepped down amid the violence, handing power to the transitional council, which has US and regional backing. Despite the arrival of a Kenyan-led police support mission, gang violence has continued to soar in Haiti. The United Nations reported late last month that over 1,200 people were killed from July through September, with persistent kidnappings and sexual violence against women and girls. Gangs in recent years have taken over about 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince as any semblance of governance evaporated. The United Nations report also said these powerful gangs are digging trenches, using drones and stockpiling weapons as they change tactics to confront the Kenyan-led police force. Gang leaders have strengthened defenses for the zones they control and placed gas cylinders and Molotov cocktail bombs ready to use against police operations. More than 700,000 people -- half of them children -- have fled their homes because of the gang violence, according to the International Organization for Migration. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles' bodybuilder Wallace Dorasamy has ended 2024 with another top performance winning bronze at the Romania Muscle Fest. Dorasamy competed in the competition held in Bucharest on Saturday and finished third in the Men's Open Bodybuilding in the middleweight category, to claim a bronze medal. «This by far was the highest level of competition I have ever been to in my career,» said Dorasamy. He added: «It was a pleasure for me to just be among the top three, although I wish I could have finished higher, as I gave it my all.» Since this is his last tournament for the year, Dorasamy said he will now go back to training and seek further improvement ahead of next year. Dorasamy has had a great 2024. The Seychelles reigning bodybuilder of the year was placed first in the Classic Bodybuilding and second in open bodybuilding under 80kg, at the United Intercontinental Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (UIBFF) Africa Cup in Bedford, South Africa, in October. He also won his pro card. He then claimed gold on the international stage again, winning the TBJP British Championships in Rotherham, England. Dorasamy competed in the open bodybuilding lightweight category and took first place, and finished third in the classic bodybuilding category. In September, he won the National Physique Committee /International Fitness and Body Building Federation (IFBB) Worldwide European Championship gold medal, in the middleweight category, in the competition held in London, England.