A historic drought across southern Africa has jeopardised access to food for 26 million people, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned Wednesday, calling for urgent funding. The crisis, worsened by the 2023-2024 El Nino climate phenomenon, is expected to deepen until at least the next harvests due in March or April next year. «Today we have up to 26 million people facing acute food insecurity in the region and this is because of El Nino induced drought,» said Eric Perdison, regional director for southern Africa at the WFP. The seven worst affected nations were Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Perdison added. Those need an additional $300 million to prevent access to sufficient, nutritious and affordable food worsening further, risking widespread hunger, according to the WFP. Five countries -- Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe -- have declared a state of national emergency in the past months as the drought has destroyed scores of crops and livestock. In many places, farmers who would normally be planting seeds at this time of the year, were not able to do so. «If you travel across the country, you will see almost all empty fields... The situation is really really dire,» said the WFP's country director in Mozambique, Antonella D'Aprile. «Communities have very little or almost nothing to eat,» she said, adding that «thousands of families are literally surviving on just one meal» a day. Assistance «cannot wait,» warned D'Aprile. «The time to support is really now.»  - 'Brink' of hunger - In neighbouring Malawi, the WFP said it has had to import food to provide assistance due to the shortages. «Nearly half the maize crops were damaged by El Nino drought earlier this year,» said the group's representative in the country, Paul Turnbull. Families were facing grim choices, he said: «Skipping meals; adults not eating so their children can eat; withdrawing children from school; and selling anything they have of value.» Despite Zambia being «known as the food basket of southern Africa»,  the country «stands at the brink of a hunger crisis,» said the WFP's director for the country Cissy Kabasuuga. In Namibia, an upper middle-income country, the situation was also dire. «All 14 regions were impacted by the drought, of which there are some that have very worrying levels (of food insecurity) and that's a very worrying situation for Namibia,» said WFP's Tiwonge Machiwenyika. The aid group's representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also joined the appeal for assistance. The country has more than 25 million people facing emergency levels of food insecurity, said Peter Musoko, WFP's representative in the DRC, with «no relief in sight». That was all «due to a cocktail» of conflict, climate extremes and health crises including outbreaks of mpox, cholera and measles, Musoko added. As a result of those multiple issues, the WFP said it had also noted an increase in sexual and gender-based violence in the country and the opening of brothels around camps hosting displaced people. US President Joe Biden on Tuesday during a trip to the region announced a $1 billion humanitarian aid package to 31 African countries, including for people affected by the drought. © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles' authorities are set to install 22 CCTV cameras next year in the Anse Royale district in the south of Mahe, the main island, to help the police better tackle crimes committed in the area.  The cameras are the result of the district’s member in the National Assembly, Sylvianne Lemiel’s, project—which she started with the Seychelles Police Force in 2018—in a bid to curb illegal activities, such as vandalism at Anse Royale.  Lemiel approached the Chinese Embassy in Seychelles to ask for a donation to purchase the cameras. The Seychelles Police Force, for its part, is also encouraging other districts in the country to implement similar surveillance projects to help curb crime.  “We have experienced many robberies and we at the Anse Royale district have deemed it important to ensure our inhabitants, businesses and visitors’ safety,” Lemiel explained to the press during the official handing over ceremony of the equipment recently.  Member of the National Assembly for Anse Royale, Sylvianne Lemiel, handing over cameras to the Seychelles Police (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY The cameras will be installed on steel poles in key areas of the district, such as the school, churches, and Fairyland—an area with a stretch of beach popular to visitors and locals alike.  The Chinese Embassy in Seychelles donated SCR 100,000 (US$ 7,224), and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs contributed a little over SCR 52,000 (US$ 3,756) to purchase the 22 surveillance cameras at a total cost of SCR 159,000 (US$ 11,486).  “The installing of the CCTV cameras is a necessary step to strengthen neighbourhood watch, deter the offenders and support efforts of the police to provide better service and protection during these emergency cases which may arise,” said the Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan.  The Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan, presenting the donation. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY The Minister for Local Government and Community Affairs, Rose-Marie Hoareau, said that the installment is not just about technology, but also “an investment in the safety of businesses, residents and others visiting the district.”  She added that this is “a step to building a stronger, more connected community where people can go about their lives with greater peace of mind.”  Meanwhile, the head of the Police Communications Centre, Mike Monthy, said, “the cameras will be able to pick up a lot of information, for instance we can record the registration number of vehicles using the road and if they are involved in any offences committed, we may also detect them.”  Over several decades, China has contributed significantly to the development of Seychelles and has helped with infrastructure projects, such as the National Assembly building, the Palais de Justice, housing estates, and the ongoing project of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) House.

The Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA) is undertaking a study to assess the vulnerability of seabirds to longline fishery in a bid to reduce the risks of these species ending up as bycatch.  The exercise will allow for a comprehensive assessment of the population status of these birds, which are most vulnerable to this type of fishery. The head of department for Fisheries Management and Technical Coordination of the SFA, Vincent Lucas, told SNA that this assessment will also propose measures for bycatch mitigation, which will then be incorporated into the national plan of action for minimising incidental catch of seabirds in the island nation's longline fisheries.  «We are mainly targeting the Seychelles-registered industrial longline vessels, which operate 25 degrees south in the Indian Ocean. This area is a hotspot for seabirds. And they are captured as bycatch as they forage on longline bait as they sink,» explained Lucas. The need for such exercise is a resolution taken by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which has recognised the need to strengthen mechanisms to protect seabirds in the Indian Ocean and the global concern that some species of seabirds, notably albatrosses and petrels, are threatened with extinction.  The IOTC, through this resolution, is also seeking to achieve reductions in levels of seabird bycatch across all fishing areas, seasons, and fisheries through the use of effective mitigation measures. Seychelles, a 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has a growing fishing industry. However, the incidental bycatch of seabirds has been of increasing concern, particularly by large-scale tuna longline vessels and, most recently, small-scale longline vessels. The assessment aims primarily to evaluate the population status of seabird species most vulnerable to bycatch in the Seychelles longline fisheries and to propose measures for bycatch mitigation. According to Lucas an already recruited consultant will be identifying the most vulnerable seabird species through bycatch data analysis and expert consultation, «as well as estimating population sizes and trends for these vulnerable species, assess the impact of bycatch from the Seychelles longline fisheries on their population viability, evaluate the effectiveness of existing bycatch mitigation measures in the Seychelles longline fishery and finally propose practical and cost-effective seabird bycatch mitigation measures tailored to the Seychelles longline fishery.» The exercise will take three months to complete. Lucas further added that last year, SFA and its parent ministry, the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy undertook an assessment of the population status of seabird species that are most vulnerable to the Seychelles longline fishery and proposed measures for bycatch mitigation. This was the first step in the process to develop a Seabird National Plan of Action for Seychelles. The finding of this assessment will be incorporated in the National Plan of Action for minimising incidental catch of seabirds in the Seychelles' longline fisheries, which is expected to be completed in 2025. According to the authority, between 2019 and 2023 over 800 seabirds were caught by fishing vessels, this figure includes dead and live birds, with the latter being released. The sustainability of seabirds is a national concern in Seychelles, especially species found on the outer islands where there used to be big populations. In February 2022, the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, raised concerns over the declining population of the sooty terns whose eggs are a local delicacy. «The population of the sooty terns has gone down significantly and it is quite alarming. It is necessary for us now to take certain actions to prevent further decline in the population of sooty terns in the country. Several measures have been proposed and a temporary ban on sooty tern egg collection with two-year review cycles whereby census would be updated,» said Joubert.  The ban on collecting the sooty tern eggs is still being maintained, and seven sooty tern colonies have become extinct in Seychelles.  

US President Joe Biden met his Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenco Tuesday at the start of a two-day visit to the African country centred on a major infrastructure project that showcases US investment on the continent, where rival China is boosting its own interests. The two presidents were expected to discuss trade, security and investment, including on a massive project to rehabilitate a railway line that transports minerals from inland countries to the Angolan port of Lobito for export. The government of the oil-rich country has declared Tuesday and Wednesday public holidays and deployed heavy security across the capital of around 9.5 million people. It is the first time a US president has visited the former Portuguese colony and Biden’s only visit to Africa since he took office in 2021 apart from his attendance at a COP27 meeting in Egypt in 2022. Biden, who hands over to Donald Trump on January 20, was due to deliver remarks later Tuesday at the National Slavery Museum, which exhibits hundreds of items used in the transatlantic trade of slaves from Africa to the Americas for centuries until the early 1800s. Angola was by the 19th century the largest source of slaves for the Americas, according to the Office of the Historian, a US State Department-affiliated website. Biden would acknowledge «the horrific history of slavery that has connected our two nations, but also looks forward to a future predicated on a shared vision that benefits both our peoples,» national security communications advisor John Kirby told reporters ahead of the trip. The United States has pledged a grant of $229,000 to support the restoration and conservation of the museum, once the estate of a slave trader, a statement said. After arriving in the Portuguese-speaking country late Monday, Biden briefly met Wanda Tucker, a descendent of the first enslaved child born in the United States whose parents were brought to colonial Virginia from Angola in 1619 aboard a Portuguese ship. - Mineral exports - On Wednesday, the outgoing Democrat president is to travel to Lobito, about 500 kilometres (310 miles) south of Luanda, for a summit on infrastructure investment also attended by leaders from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Zambia. The port is at the heart of the Lobito Corridor project that has received loans from the United States, the European Union and others to rehabilitate a railway connecting mineral-rich DRC and Zambia with Lobito. It is «a real game changer for US engagement in Africa», said Kirby. «It's our fervent hope that as the new team comes in and takes a look at this, that they see the value too, that they see how it will help drive a more secure, more prosperous, more economically stable continent.» The Lobito project is a piece in the geopolitical battle between the United States and its allies, and China, which owns mines in the DRC and Zambia among an array of investments in the region. A similar railway project involving Chinese investment is aimed at ferrying minerals out via a Tanzanian port on the Indian Ocean. A senior US official told journalists ahead of Biden's trip that African governments are seeking an alternative to Chinese investment, especially when it results in «living under crushing debt for generations to come». Angola owes China $17 billion, about 40 percent of the nation's total debt. - Police accused of abuse - Human rights organisations have urged Biden to raise Angola's rights record. Amnesty International said last month that Angolan police had killed at least 17 protesters between November 2020 and June 2023. It asked Biden to demand that Angola «release five government critics arbitrarily detained for more than a year». «Biden should stand with the Angolan people and seek a public commitment by Angola’s president to investigate rights violations by the security forces and appropriately hold those responsible to account,» Human Rights Watch said. © Agence France-Presse  

France headed into a new political crisis Tuesday as opposition lawmakers vowed to topple the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote after just three months in office. A standoff over an austerity budget, which has caused jitters on financial markets, follows months of tension since President Emmanuel Macron appointed the 73-year-old in September. The far-left France Unbowed (LFI) opposition party said it would bring a no-confidence motion after Barnier used executive powers Monday to force through social security legislation without a vote. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN), which has demanded changes to the 2025 budget, said it would back the LFI move. French legislators were expected to vote on the motion Wednesday, with first results around 1900 GMT. Two no-confidence motions will be put forward. One by the far right is unlikely to pass. Another proposed by the hard-left should go through with backing from RN lawmakers. «Blocking this budget is, alas, the only way the constitution gives us to protect the French people from a dangerous, unfair and punitive budget,» Le Pen said on X. Barnier warned against the move. France's situation is «very difficult in economic and social terms,» Barnier told the National Assembly lower house. The vote would «make everything more difficult and more serious,» he added. - 'Didn't think she'd dare ' - Macron, currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, has appeared to be mostly a spectator in the crisis he unleashed by ordering snap elections in June, prompting some voices to question if he should consider resigning. The turbulence has intensified political instability in the key EU member following the inconclusive elections called by Macron in a bid to halt the rise of the far right. Barnier has been under pressure to cut 60 billion euros ($64 billion) off government spending in 2025 in a bid to cut the public-sector deficit to five percent of gross domestic product, from 6.1 percent of GDP this year. He has made a number of concessions to the opposition including scrapping plans for a less generous prescription drug reimbursement policy from next year. But Le Pen has still opposed Barnier's plan. Le Pen kept asking for concessions and Barnier had not thought she would back a no-confidence motion, a political source said. «I didn't think she'd dare,» Barnier said on Monday, according to the source. Jockeying for leadership positions has started, with Socialist party boss Olivier Faure saying Macron must «appoint a left-wing prime minister». But economists at ING said the likelihood of quickly finding a replacement for Barnier was «highly uncertain» because the National Assembly is so divided. - 'President's responsibility' - In a poll published on Monday, 52 percent of French people said they favoured Macron resigning, but were above all concerned about their purchasing power. «I'm very worried and very upset with the forces on the left and the forces on the far right,» Bertrand Chenu, a 65-year-old retiree, told AFP in Paris. In Strasbourg, Emmanuel Parisot, 51, said the crisis was Macron's fault because he dissolved parliament and called snap polls. «It's all the president's responsibility,» Parisot said. «We don't know where that's going to lead.» If the government falls, it would be the first successful no-confidence vote since a defeat for Georges Pompidou's government in 1962, when Charles de Gaulle was president. The lifespan of Barnier's government would also be the shortest of any administration of France's Fifth Republic which began in 1958. Some observers have suggested that Le Pen, 56, is playing a high-risk game and seeking to bring down Macron before his term ends by ousting Barnier. Le Pen is embroiled in a high-profile embezzlement trial. If found guilty in March, she could be blocked from participating in France's next presidential election, scheduled for 2027. If Macron stepped down soon, an election would have to be called within a month, potentially ahead of the verdict in her trial. «She could hope, if she won, to be in the Elysee Palace by early February,» said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group. © Agence France-Presse  

The enduring partnership between Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took centre stage as Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan attended a reception celebrating the UAE's 53rd National Day at the Savoy Resort and Spa in Beau Vallon on Sunday. Hosted by UAE Chargé d’Affaires to Seychelles, Ahmed Alnayadi, the event was attended by dignitaries including former President Danny Faure, Vice President Ahmed Afif, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Roger Mancienne, members of the diplomatic corps, and other high-ranking officials. Highlighting the significance of the occasion, Alnayadi described the UAE’s National Day as a celebration of progress and ambition and “celebrates the UAE’s people’s journey towards a better future by honouring today’s pioneers and inspire tomorrow’s leaders, embracing the causes of sustainability and teamwork, carrying the spirit of connection, work and achievements that form the foundation of our forefathers.” UAE Chargé d’Affaires to Seychelles, Ahmed Alnayadi. (Seychelles Nation) Photo license: All Rights Reserved Reflecting on the UAE's evolution since its founding on 2 December 1971, Alnayadi praised its growth into a global leader in diverse sectors, including technology, space, clean energy, and culture. He also underscored the nation's commitment to fostering peace and preserving cultural heritage through collaborations with international organisations like UNESCO. The UAE's relationship with Seychelles, Alnayadi noted, is built on “a strong bond of friendship rooted in cooperation and mutual respect.” This sentiment was echoed by Seychelles’ Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, who praised the UAE as “a global leader in innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable development.” Radegonde acknowledged the many recent benefits Seychelles has gained from the UAE’s support, highlighting contributions such as medical equipment for La Digue Hospital, scholarships for Seychellois students, and capacity-building initiatives. Seychelles’ Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde. (Seychelles Nation) Photo license: All Rights Reserved “UAE’s proactive role in fostering regional stability, mediating conflicts and addressing global challenges like climate change reflects its dedication to global peace and stability…while its partnership with Small Island Developing States like the Seychelles amplify its efforts to protect the environment and enhance quality of life for future generations,” he added. Seychelles and the UAE established formal diplomatic ties in 1982, but connections between the two nations predate this, with Seychellois working in the Emirates, including roles within royal households, fostering deeper bonds. This year’s celebration in Seychelles served as a testament to the enduring friendship and dynamic collaboration between the two nations, united by shared values and aspirations for peace, prosperity, and progress. (Seychelles Nation) Photo license: All Rights Reserved The UAE National Day marks the unification of six emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah—on 2 December 1971. The seventh, Ras Al Khaimah, joined the federation in February 1972 under the leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who transformed the UAE into a regional economic powerhouse.

Two new Zambian justices were sworn in to the Court of Appeal of Seychelles on Monday morning, and they started their duties immediately. The two non-resident justices, Dominic Sichinga and Nicola Sharpe-Phiri, both took their oaths on Monday in a ceremony at State House before the President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, along with the Vice-President, Ahmed Afif, the Chief Justice, Ronny Govinden, the President of the Court of Appeal, Anthony Fernando, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Gervais Henrie, other justices of appeal, and members of the Constitutional Appointees Authority (CAA). In his address during the ceremony, Ramkalawan reiterated the fact that such appointments are not chosen by the President himself but by the CAA, which has two members appointed by the President and two appointed by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. With 22 years of experience, Justice Dominic Sichinga has served as Zambia's Solicitor General, a legal consultant at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a judge in charge of Zambia's Kabwe High Court for 12 years, and a judge of appeal for seven years.  Justice Sichinga swearing his oath at State House (Seychelles News Agency) Photo license: CC-BY From 1992 to 1994, he was employed by Budd Martin Burrett in the UK as a nascent advocate. In the United States, he also served as an administrative officer on the Kosovo Law Enforcement Project from 1992 to 1994 and as a child support officer in the Office of the Attorney General of Texas from 1999 to 2003. While serving as permanent secretary at Zambia's Ministry of Transport, Works, and Communications, he gained experience in senior management. He has experience in litigation and adjudicating in a wide range of appeals, including Human Rights Law, Constitutional Law, and General Civil Law. On the other hand, prior to her appointment as a judge of the Court of Appeal in April 2021, Justice Nicola Sharpe-Phiri had 20 years of experience in private practice, six years as a High Court judge at the Lusaka High Court, and five years as a judge-in-charge at the Family & Children Court. Justice Sharpe-Phiri swearing her oath at State House (Seychelles News Agency) Photo license: CC-BY She served on the Judiciary's Advisory Committee on Training and Continuing Education while serving as Judge-in-Charge of the Family & Children's Division from 2017 to 2021. She presently holds several positions in the judiciary, such as Chairperson of Zambia's Small Claims Court. She is also a member of the Judicial Institute for Africa's (JIFA) Appraisal Performance Committee and Zambia's Judiciary Focal Point Person. In addition, she serves as the vice president of the Zambia Association of Women Judges (ZAWJ), a member of the Commonwealth Association of Magistrates and Judges, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), and a commercial arbitrator. As a judge, she also adjudicates appeals from subordinate courts. In her capacity as Justice of Appeal, she adjudicates in civil and criminal appeals. Her other areas of interest are Family Law, Constitutional Law, Banking and Corporate Law, and Arbitration.

Dutch marathon runner Sifan Hassan and Botswanan sprinter Letsile Tebogo, both of whom took gold at the Paris Olympics, were named 'Athletes of the Year' by World Athletics in Monaco on Sunday. Hassan, who also won the out-of-stadium award, was rewarded for her incredible performance in the French capital which stretched beyond the marathon and on to the track. In the space of seven days, she won two bronze medals in the 5,000 metres, having also run a heat, and the 10,000m, and a spectacular gold in the marathon when she outsprinted Ethiopia's then world record holder Tigist Assefa to win by just three seconds. «I never thought I was going to win this one,» said Hassan after receiving her award in Monaco. «This year was crazy. It's not only me –- all the athletes have been amazing.» Tebogo received his award after becoming the first African to be crowned Olympic champion in the 200m, crossing the line at the Stade de France in 19.46 seconds, edging out the American Kenny Bednarek and favourite Noah Lyles. «This means a lot,» said Tebogo who doubled up with the men's track award. «It's not just about the team that is around you, there are a lot of fans out there that really want us to win something great for the continent. »It was a real surprise to hear my name because I didn't expect this." The international athletics federation also decided to reward a number of other athletes who shone at the Olympics. Swedish pole-vaulter Armand Duplantis won the men's field category after an unbeaten 2024, winning Olympic gold and setting a new world record of 6.26 metres. Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh was the winner in the women's event, after improving the old high jump world record to 2.10m at the age of just 22 and also winning Olympic gold in Paris. In addition to Tebogo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was rewarded in the track category for beating her own world record in the 400m hurdles, running 50.37 to win gold in Paris, while men's Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia was given the out-of-stadium award. Ethiopian steeplechaser Sembo Almayew and Italian long-jumper Mattia Furlani were given the rising star awards. During the ceremony, a moment was taken to remember last year's men's out-of-stadium athlete of the year Kelvin Kiptum, the marathon world record-holder who died in a road traffic accident in February. World Athletics Awards: Women's World Athlete of the Year: Sifan Hassan (NED) Men's World Athlete of the Year: Letsile Tebogo (BOT) Women's track: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) Women's field: Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) Women's out-of-stadium: Sifan Hassan (NED) Men's track: Letsile Tebogo (BOT) Men's field: Armand Duplantis (SWE) Men's out-of-stadium: Tamirat Tola (ETH) Women's Rising Star: Sembo Almayew (ETH) Men's Rising Star: Mattia Furlani (ITA) © Agence France-Presse

The president of the International Criminal Court lashed out Monday against attacks on the court, which finds itself under the spotlight after issuing arrest warrants over wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The ICC has faced criticism in some quarters after judges issued an arrest warrant last month for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, and a top Hamas leader. ICC judges said there were «reasonable grounds» to suspect the three men of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the Hamas October 7 attacks and the subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza. Netanyahu described the decision as anti-Semitic, while US President Joe Biden slammed the warrants against the Israelis as «outrageous.» Addressing ICC members in the Hague, ICC President Tomoko Akane said the court faced «coercive measures, threats, pressure, and acts of sabotage.» «We are at a turning point in history... International law and international justice are under threat. So is the future of humanity,» she added. «The International Criminal Court will continue to carry out its lawful mandate, independently and impartially, without giving in to any outside interference,» she pledged. The ICC also has an arrest warrant pending for Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Moscow reacting with its own warrants for top court officials. Some US Republicans have called on the Senate to sanction the ICC, which has 124 members -- not including the United States, Israel, or Russia. In a thinly veiled reference to these actions, Akane said: «several elected officials are being severely threatened and are subjected to arrest warrants from a permanent member of the UN Security Council.» «The court is being threatened with draconian economic sanctions from institutions of another permanent member of the Security Council as if it was a terrorist organisation,» she added. It is «appalling» that countries appear «scandalised» when the ICC hands down arrest warrants based on international law, said Akane. «If the court collapses, this will inevitably imply the collapse of all situations and cases... The danger for the court is existential.» © Agence France-Presse

Seychelles marked its inaugural event to celebrate the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery with an exhibition at the Venn’s Town Cultural Landscape at Sans Soucis on Monday The event offered visitors a journey through the archipelago’s history with slavery and its aftermath, during the French and later British colonial periods. David Andre, secretary general of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage, and the Arts (SNICHA), led a delegation through the exhibition during an open day. The event was organised by the Seychelles National Heritage Resource Council (SNHRC) in collaboration with the National Archives. David Andre viewing the exhibition (Seychelles Nation) Photo license: All Rights Reserved Venn’s Town, an iconic site in Seychelles' history, was the first educational institution established for the children of liberated slaves. Officially opened on March 20, 1876, it is located in the verdant hills of Sans Soucis in the northwest of Mahe, the main island. Founded by the Christian Missionary Society, the institution was named after Anglican evangelist Henry Venn and remained operational until its closure in 1889. “We decided to hold the event here because this site is intrinsically linked to freed slaves. It is where liberated children came to attend industrial school,” explained SNHRC researcher Therese Jeremie during an interview with the press. Originally opened in 1875, Venn’s Town was more than just a school; it was a self-sustaining settlement. The site included plantations of vanilla and patchouli, buildings for education, dormitories, a laundry, and even a cemetery, the remnants of which can still be seen today. The ruins of Venn's Town (Seychelles Nation) Photo license: All Rights Reserved   “What we are showing today is what happened after the abolition of slavery here in Seychelles, which happened in 1835, as well as showing what happened to the children who brought here after being rescued by British vessels,” Jeremie added. Neighbouring Mauritius also has a site established for freed slave children. “Ours was different, the children came here to study, where they learnt languages - which is where our Creole nation was born,” she said. The exhibition tells the harrowing tales of slavery in Seychelles (Seychelles Nation) Photo license: All Rights Reserved  During their time at the school, the children planted crops to sustain the institution. “They planted things like cocoa, which they used and also sold in order to contribute to the school’s upkeep,” Jeremie said. While this year’s activities were low-key, Jeremie revealed plans for larger celebrations in August next year to commemorate the abolition of slavery. SNHRC researcher Therese Jeremie (Seychelles Nation) Photo license: All Rights Reserved Meanwhile, the SNHRC aims to enhance the visitor experience by expanding exhibits and gathering additional historical information. “Since we were previously a British Indian Ocean Territory, we are working with Britain to gather more information through continuous research which we will make public in different ways, including publications,” she concluded.

Seychelles will bid farewell to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner next week, after he served the island nation for the past three years. Srimal Wickremasinghe was accredited to Seychelles in April 2021, and on Monday morning he met with President Wavel Ramkalawan for a farewell visit at State House. The diplomat told the media that the meeting with the President was a very fruitful one, where they had discussions on what has been done in the past and what can be done in the future, including obtaining more teachers from Sri Lanka for Seychelles. “I would like to thank the Seychelles authorities for the help they gave the Sri Lankans who were being attacked by pirates earlier this year, and I really want to thank everyone for that,” added Wickremasinghe, referring to attacks at sea experienced by Sri Lankan boats. He added that after three years, a lot has been accomplished, highlighting the engineering council that is being set up in the early stages, will benefit all professionals in this area in Seychelles. “I have also worked closely with sports, where Seychelles even participated in a football tournament in Sri Lanka, which Seychelles actually won,” he added, saying that there is a long list of things that have been achieved. One of the main difficulties that both Seychelles and Sri Lanka are facing is the issue of illegal fishing, and he commended Seychelles for its work in dealing with this problem. Meanwhile, Wickremasinghe explained that after three years, he is now looking forward to taking a well-deserved break, and given his love for sport, and after he is well-rested, he will probably work on something in sports. Wickremasinghe was the former deputy chief of mission of Sri Lanka in Austria and the deputy permanent representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations. He has also served as the general secretary of the International Olympic Academy Alumni Association of Ancient Olympia, Greece.

Seychelles and India have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening hydrographic cooperation, emphasising its critical role in maritime safety, environmental protection, and economic development. The announcement followed a series of meetings held on November 29, 2024, between high-level officials from both nations, according to press statements During a meeting with Commodore Vishal Sharma and the Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles, Kartik Pande, the Seychelles' Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, acknowledged India's pivotal contribution to Seychelles’ hydrographic progress. “India’s support has been instrumental in advancing our hydrographic capabilities through essential charting, data sharing, and capacity-building initiatives,” Radegonde noted. He highlighted how these efforts enhance safe navigation, promote sustainable maritime practices, and bolster national security. Minister Radegonde with the high-level Indian delegation (Department of Foreign Affairs) Photo license: CC-BY The discussions underscored the two countries' shared dedication to maintaining a sustainable and secure maritime environment, reinforcing regional and global maritime interests. Separately, the Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, hosted Commodore Sharma, Captain Amit Pant, and High Commissioner Pande for a courtesy call and bilateral meeting. Derjacques expressed optimism about the ongoing partnership, highlighting the «excellent and flourishing relationship» between Seychelles and India. The discussions revisited the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Hydrographic Cooperation, initially signed in 2015. Both parties agreed to review the MOU in 2025 to integrate new initiatives and align it with emerging priorities. The Indian delegation detailed its achievements in collaboration with Seychelles, including the production of updated nautical charts and capacity-building efforts for local personnel. In a symbolic gesture of the collaboration, the Indian National Hydrographic Office handed over a cheque for $4,962 in royalties from the sale of nautical charts and presented updated charts of Seychelles’ waters, including areas near the Port of Victoria as well as those of Praslin, and La Digue. The meetings, which included participation from senior officials such as Brigadier Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), reaffirmed the enduring partnership between Seychelles and India in the domain of hydrography. Both nations reiterated their commitment to enhancing maritime safety, fostering economic development, and addressing regional challenges together.

Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to curb plastic pollution and need more time to continue discussions, the diplomat chairing the talks said Sunday. Nearly 200 nations are in South Korea's Busan for negotiations that are supposed to result in the world's first accord on the issue after two years of discussions. But a week of talks has failed to resolve deep divisions between «high-ambition» countries seeking a globally binding agreement to limit production and phase out harmful chemicals, and «like-minded», mostly oil-producing nations who want to focus on waste. Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060, and more than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled. A draft text released Sunday afternoon after multiple delays included a wide range of options, making clear the ongoing level of disagreement. When an open plenary session finally convened late Sunday night, chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said progress had been made. But he said «we must also recognise that a few critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement.» «These unresolved issues remain challenging and additional time will be needed to address them effectively,» he said. «There is a general agreement to resume the current session at a later date to conclude our negotiations.» Several nations took to the floor to support the call for more time -- but their agreement ended there. Rwandan delegate Juliet Kabera spoke of «strong concerns about ongoing calls by a small group of countries to remove binding provisions from the text that are indispensable for the treaty to be effective.» She delivered a statement on behalf of dozens of countries, demanding a treaty that would require targets to reduce production and phase out chemicals of concern. «A treaty that lacks these elements and only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable,» she said, inviting supporting delegations to stand up to extensive applause from the plenary room. - 'Huge gap' - Iran however warned it remained unhappy with proposals on those issues and others, warning of the «huge gap» between parties. «We need to be assured that when (we) come together again, we will be allowed to add, introduce our own new languages, and to put into brackets any part or paragraph,» its delegate said. That raised the prospect that any new talks could follow the pattern seen in Busan, where repeated attempts by the chair to synthesise and streamline text encountered resistance. Earlier, delegations seeking an ambitious treaty warned that a handful of countries were steadfastly blocking progress. A French minister accused the like-minded group of «continuing obstruction,» while Fiji's Sivendra Michael called out a «very minority group» for «blocking the process.» While countries have declined to directly name those preventing a deal, public statements and submissions have shown Saudi Arabia, Iran and Russia have sought to block production cuts and other ambitious goals. None of the delegations have responded to repeated AFP requests for comment. Portuguese delegate Maria Joao Teixeira said earlier Sunday that another round of talks might be the best option for a meaningful deal. «We are really trying to not have a weak treaty,» she told AFP. But environmental groups had pushed ambitious countries to call a vote if progress stalls, and said another round of negotiations was unnecessary. «We know what we need to do to end plastic pollution... simply adding more meetings is not the solution,» said Eirik Lindebjerg, global plastics policy lead at WWF. While dozens of countries support production limits and phasing out some chemicals and unnecessary plastic products, left unclear is the position of the world's top two plastics producers, China and the United States. Both were notably absent from the stage at a Sunday press conference by countries urging a strong treaty and were not on the list of countries supporting Rwanda's statement. © Agence France-Presse  

A businessman from Praslin, Seychelles' second most populated island, is combining landscaping and agriculture together with the Seychellois history and traditions at a private living museum.  Seeing the need to preserve Seychelles' cultural assets and give tourists something extra when visiting Praslin, Steve Esther, a trained agriculturalist, decided to set up a Praslin Museum at Cote D'Or. Setting up of the Praslin Museum «I did a lot of landscaping work at various tourism establishments namely Constance Lemuria Praslin Seychelles, the grass work on its golf course as well as the tree planting around it, at Dekenia Villa, Dhevatara Beach Hotel and Paradise Sun Hotel Seychelles,» Esther told SNA. So when he decided to start his business, he thought of combining all of them and that was in 2007. «I did not want to have a museum where tourists could just come and view exhibits, go around in a building, and then leave. I wanted to make a difference by not making it a boring experience for the visitors. This is a living museum and in here there is no time or space for boredom,» Esther added. Steve Esther, a trained agriculturalist, decided to set up a Praslin Museum at Cote D'Or. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved     Touring the Praslin Museum The first attraction is a tortoise enclosure and visitors can feed them while Esther provides information on them. 'Konmbi' one of the tortoises weighing 348kg and aged 165 years is the oldest one found on the island. Esther said, «I have made the park quite spacious because tourists do not like to see animals in tight enclosures, and for the tortoises to be able to move around.» Fruit bats can also be seen in a fenced, neat and well-kept area next to the tortoises and can easily leave and enter the area when they want. Medicinal plants An interesting part of the Seychellois tradition is the use of medicinal plants and it is something Esther has made sure to include in his museum. «We have a variety of medicinal plants found in Seychelles here at the Museum, which we show to our clients and explain their medicinal values and benefits,» he said. Beekeeping is another element of the Praslin Museum and the fresh honey is sold to visitors of the museum. While touring the museum tourists can learn how to dehusk a coconut in different ways and even how to grate coconuts. Esther and his daughter Hilka provide their clients with all they need to know about the different parts of a coconut tree and their uses. Visitors are also shown how coconut oil is made and what are its health benefits. Going further in the Museum one can smell the lemongrass and get the chance to enjoy a cup of lemongrass tea.   There is a variety of medicinal plants at the Museum. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved     «Lemongrass tea is enjoyed around the world. So we decided to have a plantation and a machine that makes teabags so that we can produce our own lemongrass tea here. We currently have five brands of lemongrass tea,» Esther explained. «There are four teabag brands – Anse Lazio, which is a fusion of passion fruit and lemongrass, Source d'Argent,  a mixture of lemongrass and vanilla, the Vallee de Mai, which is lemongrass and cinnamon, and Anse Georgette, which is lemongrass on its own.» Esther shared. The Praslin Museum also produces two coffee brands – organic cinnamon coffee and organic vanilla coffee. Esther also sells cinnamon bark and powder, which are must-haves in the kitchen. Aside from lemongrass, Esther has passion fruit and aloe vera plantations on his land. The passion fruit is used to make fresh juice for his clients while the aloe vera is used to make gel and the visitors can even buy the fresh leaves as well. Other experiences at the Museum The Seychellois traditional ways of cooking, the utensils, and the architectural design of the outdoor kitchen are showcased at the Museum. Esther said, «We offer learning experience on how to prepare traditional food of Seychelles. There is a programme called 'do it yourself,' which we offer our clients.» Also on exhibit are old photos of Seychelles and musical instruments and Esther shows his clients how to play them. One has a part made in the shape of a coco de mer. Esther with a musical instrument with a part in the shape of the coco de mer. (Mandy Bertin) Photo License: All Rights Reserved     For a modest fee, a visitor can explore the museum for about an hour, and get a  coconut, a glass of fresh juice, and a platter of fruits served in a half-cut coco de mer. An interesting aspect is that if visitors want to come back, they can do so and the entrance will be free of charge. «Praslin Museum welcomes visitors from all over the world and even caters to eco-tourism groups. We even have programmes for hotels and destination management companies,» Esther said. He added that the Museum «gets positive feedback from all our clients because we do our work with love. It is important to know how to touch a client's heart and to give them value for their money.» The Praslin Museum also caters to children accompanying their parents and they get to learn how to play Seychellois traditional games. 

The Israeli military carried out air strikes in Lebanon Saturday against Hezbollah activities that it said «posed a threat», days into a fragile ceasefire between it and the Iran-backed group. The army said it had also struck «military infrastructure» on the Syria-Lebanon border, where it accused Hezbollah of smuggling weapons in violation of the truce. In a speech this week announcing his government was ready to accept a ceasefire after more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned that Israel would maintain «full military freedom of action» in the event of any breach. In a statement on Saturday, the military listed four separate strikes in Lebanon on facilities, weapons and vehicles belonging to Hezbollah, saying it had acted «against activities in Lebanon that posed a threat to the State of Israel, violating the ceasefire understandings». Lebanon's health ministry said that an Israeli «strike on a car in Majdal Zoun wounded three people including a seven-year-old child». Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported «continued violations of the ceasefire» by Israel, including an incident in which an Israeli tank «crushed a number of cars and surrounded some families» who were later evacuated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Separately, Israel's military said it had launched a «strike on military infrastructure sites adjacent to border crossings between Syria and Lebanon that were actively used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons», adding that the alleged smuggling took place after the ceasefire took effect. - US general discusses ceasefire - The ceasefire deal, which was intended to end more than a year of cross-border exchanges of fire and two months of all-out war, went into effect early on Wednesday. As part of the terms of the agreement, the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers will deploy in southern Lebanon as the Israeli army withdraws over a period of 60 days. Hezbollah is also meant to withdraw its forces north of the Litani river, approximately 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. On Friday, the group's chief Naim Qassem vowed to cooperate with the Lebanese army «to implement the commitments of the agreement». NNA reported that army chief Joseph Aoun met US Major General Jasper Jeffers to discuss «the general situation and coordination mechanisms between concerned parties in the south». The US military's Central Command said Jeffers arrived in Beirut this week «to serve as co-chair for the implementation and monitoring mechanism of the cessation of hostilities». According to Lebanon's health ministry, at least 3,961 people have been killed in the country since October 2023 as a result of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, most of them in recent weeks. On the Israeli side, the hostilities have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities say. - Hamas publishes hostage video - Israel stepped up its campaign in south Lebanon in late September after nearly a year of cross-border exchanges begun by Hezbollah in support of its ally Hamas following the Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. Hamas's attack resulted in 1,207 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed 44,382 people in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the UN considers reliable. Militants also seized 251 hostages during the October 7 attack. Ninety-seven are still being held in Gaza, including 34 who have been confirmed dead. Hamas's armed wing published a video Saturday of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. In the video, Alexander addresses US President-elect Donald Trump in English and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Hebrew, and calls on Israelis to put pressure on the government to secure the release of the hostages. «The shocking video of Edan, an American-Israeli citizen, is definite proof that despite all the rumours -- there are living hostages and they are suffering greatly,» the Hostage Families Forum campaign group said in a statement, adding that «returning the hostages is only possible through a deal». Meanwhile, the US charity World Central Kitchen said Saturday it was «pausing operations in Gaza» after an Israeli air strike hit a vehicle carrying its workers. The Israeli military earlier confirmed that a strike in Gaza killed a Palestinian employee of the charity, accusing the worker of being a «terrorist» who «infiltrated Israel and took part in the murderous October 7 massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz». While WCK confirmed a strike had hit its staff, it did not confirm any deaths, noting it was  «working with incomplete information». Earlier Saturday, civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP the bodies of «at least five dead were transported (to hospital), including the three employees of World Central Kitchen». Israeli representatives demanded that WCK «order an urgent examination regarding the hiring of workers who took part in the October 7 massacre», an army statement said. In its statement, WCK said it «had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7 Hamas attack». © Agence France-Presse

Kai Wint, an international full-back who was born to Seychellois parents in Wales, UK,  has been selected for the Seychelles national team and will soon be launching his very own football school in his hometown of Newport, aimed at sharing his knowledge and experience with the younger generation. «Resolute Ballers,» as the school is named, will cater to children aged from five years old, where it will provide them with technical, athletic, mental, and tactical understanding, to aid their progress in their football careers. «I have been involved in coaching for a while now and having acquired my qualifications, I want to help the next generation with my insight and knowledge from my own experiences playing across the world,» said Wint. He recently signed with Italian side, ASD Casteltermini, but due to an issue with his international clearance, Wint had to return to his home in Wales, with the club still interested in signing him during the January transfer window. The 22-year-old has played in several European countries, including Merani Tbilisi of Georgia, Cinderford and Chippenham in England, Europa Point FC in Gibraltar, and Newport County in Wales, where he began his career. Based in Newport, Wales, Wint explains that he wants to inspire an area that is most deprived in Wales, with many people of different backgrounds, especially in the area of Pillgwenlly. «I just want to give back, educate and positively guide the youngsters in that area, to show them that where they are from does not define them,» said Wint. He added that he wants to show that with hard work, focus and self-belief, anyone can achieve their dreams. While Wint's move to Italy has hit a roadblock, he said that at the moment he is unsure of where his future lies, but wants to work towards getting Seychelles call-up in March. He said he needs support from the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF), with the processing of his Seychelles passport. 

UK lawmakers debated Friday whether to advance divisive and emotive legislation to allow assisted dying for terminally ill people in England and Wales, with a vote expected later in the day. Parliament last debated, and defeated, a euthanasia bill in 2015, but public support for giving terminally ill people the choice to end their lives has since shifted in favour. Opening the debate, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, said changing the law would give terminally ill people «choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives». But dozens of opponents gathered outside parliament holding signs with «Kill the Bill, not the ill» and «care not killing» as they urged MPs to vote against the proposed legislation. Two polls last week indicated that a majority of Britons back changing the law, which would see England and Wales emulate several European and other countries. Supporters say allowing assisted suicide would make some deaths less painful. However, faith leaders are among the stringent opponents, with nearly 30 signing a joint letter last weekend arguing they are «deeply concerned» by the plans. Critics insist it could lead some people to feel pressured into ending their life, while some say the healthcare system is not ready for such a landmark change. The bill would allow assisted suicide in England and Wales for adults with an incurable illness who have a life expectancy of fewer than six months and are able to take the substance that causes their death themselves. Any patient's wish to die would have to be signed off by a judge and two doctors. The measures are stricter than assisted dying laws in other European countries and also proposed legislation being considered in France. The bill is a so-called private members' bill and is not part of the government's agenda. The debate was due to end at 2:00 pm, with a vote on progressing the bill to its next parliamentary stage highly likely but not guaranteed. - 'Right to choose' - The legislation follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer's vow, before winning power in July, to allow parliament to revisit the issue. The UK leader, who voted in favour of allowing assisted suicide in 2015 but with «robust» safeguards, has not revealed his current view. The country's most senior civil servant has told cabinet members they «should not take part in the public debate» given the government is remaining neutral on the bill. However, a number of senior ministers have aired their opinions, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood both saying they are opposed. Mahmood, the country's most senior Muslim politician, argued in a recent letter to constituents that «the state should never offer death as a service», while noting that her faith was informing her stance. Broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill and has spearheaded the campaign for a law change, on Thursday urged other MPs to be honest about whether faith was the basis for any opposition. «They have the right to choose but please be honest about your real motivation,» she told LBC radio. Meanwhile former prime minister David Cameron, who opposed the 2015 law change, revealed he had changed his mind on the issue. «As campaigners have convincingly argued, this proposal is not about ending life. It is about shortening death,» he wrote in The Times newspaper on Thursday. However other ex-premiers -- including Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Gordon Brown -- have all said they oppose the legislation. Assisted suicide is currently banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. In Scotland, which has a separate legal system and devolved powers to set its own health policy, it is not a specific criminal offence. But it can leave a person open to other charges, including murder. © Agence France-Presse

Saudi Arabia will host the COP16 UN conference on land degradation and desertification next week as the top oil exporter pitches itself as an environmental defender despite criticism of its role at climate talks. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called the meeting for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) a «moonshot moment» to protect and restore land and respond to drought. Activists accused Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, of trying to water down calls to phase out fossil fuels at last week's COP29 UN climate talks in Azerbaijan. However, the subject of desertification is close to home for the Gulf kingdom, which has one of the biggest deserts on the planet. «We are a desert country. We are exposed to the harshest mode of land degradation which is desertification,» deputy environment minister Osama Faqeeha told AFP. «Our land is arid. Our rainfall is very little. And this is the reality. And we have been dealing with this for centuries.» Land degradation disrupts ecosystems and makes land less productive for agriculture, leading to food shortages and spurring migration. Land is considered degraded when its productivity has been harmed by human activities like pollution or deforestation. Desertification is an extreme form of degradation. - 'Under the radar' - The last gathering of parties to the convention, in Ivory Coast in 2022, produced a commitment to «accelerating the restoration of one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030». But the UNCCD, which brings together 196 countries and the European Union, now says 1.5 billion hectares (3.7 billion acres) must be restored by decade's end to combat crises including escalating droughts. Saudi Arabia is aiming to restore 40 million hectares of degraded land, Faqeeha told AFP, without specifying a timeline. He said Riyadh anticipated restoring «several million hectares of land» by 2030. So far 240,000 hectares have been recovered using measures including banning illegal logging and expanding the number of national parks from 19 in 2016 to more than 500, Faqeeha said. Other ways to restore land include planting trees, crop rotation, managing grazing and restoring wetlands. The COP29 climate talks yielded a hard won $300 billion climate finance deal that poorer nations most at risk of worsening disasters dismissed as insultingly low. UNCCD executive secretary Ibrahim Thiaw told AFP he hoped COP16 would result in an agreement to accelerate land restoration and develop a «proactive» approach to droughts. «We have already lost 40 percent of our land and our soils,» Thiaw said. «Global security is really at stake, and you see it all over the world. Not only in Africa, not only in the Middle East.» Faqeeha said he hoped the talks would bring more global awareness to the threat posed by degradation and desertification. «If we continue to allow land to degrade, we will have huge losses,» he said. «Land degradation now is a major phenomenon that is really happening under the radar.» Saudi Arabia's high oil production, resulting in eye-watering profits for oil giant Aramco, routinely draws the ire of climate activists. But its exposure to desertification could give it more credibility during the Riyadh talks. «With the desertification fight, (Saudi Arabia is) not necessarily directly contributing to the problem, whereas with climate change, it obviously is,» said Patrick Galey, senior fossil fuels investigator for Global Witness. «Saudi Arabia can, with some legitimacy, claim to be standing up for the little guy when it comes to desertification, because it is directly affected.» - Freedom of speech - Thousands of delegates have registered to attend the December 2-13 talks in Riyadh including «close to 100» government ministers, Thiaw said. French President Emmanuel Macron is due to attend the One Water Summit, taking place on the sidelines of COP16 on December 3. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been criticised for mounting repression even as the kingdom pursues head-spinning social reforms intended to lure tourists and investors. As a UN-organised event, civil society including campaigners will be able to take part, although it was not clear if protests -- a rarity in the kingdom -- would be allowed. Saudi Arabia is hoping for strong, «constructive» civil society participation in COP16, Faqeeha said. «We are welcoming all constructive engagement,» he told AFP, while Thiaw said all groups would be welcome to contribute and express themselves. «According to UN rules, of course there are rules of engagement, and everybody is guaranteed freedom of speech,» Thiaw said. © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles Hospital celebrates its centennial anniversary and to commemorate the event a commemorative plaque was unveiled by President Wavel Ramkalawan and the Health Minister, Peggy Vidot, on Thursday. Ramkalawan said, «It is fitting that while we are celebrating the centennial year, we have taken the decision to build a new hospital that will take us to the next hundred years.» During the ceremony held at the Seychelles Hospital in the central Mahe district of Mont Fleuri, the past, present and future health workers of health workers were celebrated. The Seychelles Hospital - previously known as Victoria Hospital - was opened on Sunday, November 30, 1924, by British Governor Joseph Aloysius Byrne and the chief medical officer John Thomas Bradley, during the time that Seychelles was a British colony. «We are not only celebrating a milestone but also a century of resilience, a century of care, and a century of unwavering determination and dedication,» said Vidot. She added that this was also an homage to all those who have worked at the institution since its opening. In addition to the plaque, a monument designed by the current head of the Health Care Agency, Dr Danny Louange, was also unveiled. Christened «Santenn» or which is hundreds in Creole, the monument is one that symbolises care, protection and the nurturing role health workers play. Meanwhile, an update on the progress being made to build a new hospital for the small island state was given. Ramkalawan said that SCR 661 million ($49 million)has been raised and this has been included in next year's budget. He also said that the technical committee is still examining whether the present site is the one where they build the new hospital, while they also look at other alternatives. «Very soon these alternatives will be put to the people of Seychelles to see a place that will not be squeezed,» he added. He explained that the current location is crowded, which is why the plans will take into account the needs of the people «and where we need to expand we will be able to do so.» Since the exact location of the new hospital is yet to be determined, Ramkalawan and Vidot also unveiled the cornerstone that will be included in the new one. An exhibition showing the history of the Hospital was also opened yesterday under the Red Roof building's verandah. It will remain open for viewing until Saturday.

The Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) has asked the government to intervene in the tourism development project proposed for Assumption Island, especially the scale of the project. The chief executive of SIF, Dr Frauke Fleischer-Dogley and the chairman of the board of trustees, Bernard Georges, reiterated the Foundation's position to the media on Thursday, after issuing a press release to address the fact that the Planning Authority had recently given its approval to the project, underling that SIF's position has «remained unchanged.» Georges said what surprised them the most was the expression of interest the Seychelles Nation newspaper published in June last year, calling for a 10-40 room eco-tourism facility, which would cater to day visitors to Aldabra. The Aldabra Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage site managed by SIF, protected under the law, and Assumption Island is part of the Aldabra Group of islands. «At the same time, there was another expression of interest for a five-star resort on Coetivy. What has happened instead, is that what was proposed for Coetivy has ended up on Assumption and nothing on Coetivy. Questions we are asking now are how has this change happened, and at what point? And wasn't this communicated? We came to understand this gradually as we progressed. So, we feel that there was a lack of adequate communication at a certain point,» he added. The SIF said in a press release that the proposed 5-star plus facility of 37 large villas and several restaurants with direct international air access is a far cry from what was advertised. IDC has not explained the reason for this divergence. «Assumption has also been compared to La Digue, which currently holds over 760 tourism accommodation rooms, with claims that the impact of 37 villas and associated facilities on Assumption would be minimal. However, SIF must highlight that La Digue is an inhabited island with a diverse environment that has been developed for tourism over several decades. Assumption has no permanent population, is environmentally fragile, and is close to Aldabra. The comparison is not helpful,» said the SIF. Georges said that SIF proposed «that this project should reflect its initial concept in the way it was proposed. We are asking for a review of this project so that it aligns with SIF's mandate. We are not against a hotel project but we are against the way it is actually at the moment.» For the time being, IDC has planted spikes in the ground to mark out future villas. (Rassin Vannier, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY     Answering questions on his position as the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, Georges said, «I am a member of the National Assembly in this current government. However, government interest does not always satisfy other interests that I have. In this case, there is a difference of opinion regarding what the government wants to do with Assumption in regards to developing a resort and what SIF, who we are representing here, wants for the Aldabra Group. I do not think there is any correlation between these situations.» Regarding biosecurity on Aldabra, Fleischer-Dogley clarified that at present there is a strict procedure in place that anyone who is visiting the atoll must adhere to and this includes verification of belongings, clothing and shoes before arrival as well as after the visit to Aldabra. This also includes cruise ships. «We only allow the smaller ones for visits and they are not your normal cruise ships, they are expeditions. They have to book in advance and submit their manifest. At any one time, we can allow only a certain amount of people, that is not more than 120 people. They also need to follow several briefings in advance, which include videos about Aldabra and especially biosecurity before any visit. Our staff also inspects each passenger individually before they get off the boat for any stray insects or seeds that might be on them,» she added. SIF repeated its opposition to the project as currently designed and planned and called on the government and all stakeholders to carefully consider the unique status of Aldabra Atoll as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a scientifically important area for endangered species. The Foundation said it is particularly concerned about the Asset Group's marketing campaign, which heavily relies on Aldabra's globally recognised natural assets. The developer's campaign features promotional material showcasing species found on Aldabra that are highly sensitive to human impacts. This approach misrepresents the project's true nature and risks exploiting Aldabra's reputation for conservation to promote a development that does not align with the tourism concept and experience of the Aldabra Group. Both Fleicher-Dogley and Georges reiterated that while there are several options available legally, at the moment SIF wishes to discuss with the government and all stakeholders and ask for a review of the project. «The project needs to be reviewed and modified so that it aligns with the interests of Aldabra as well as the country. If this does not happen, we will then see what options are available to us to ensure that our mandate is respected and protected. Here in Seychelles, judicially we already have precedence regarding these subjects. The Court of Appeal stated very recently that under the Constitution, the government has a responsibility to protect the environment. This was very clear,» said Georges.

The European Union on Thursday confirmed it would give Ukraine 18.1 billion euros ($19 billion) as part of a bigger G7 loan backed by profits from frozen Russian assets. The Group of Seven advanced economies last month finalised an agreement on a $50 billion loan to Kyiv to help prop up the country as it struggles to fight back against Moscow's invasion. The United States committed to providing $20 billion of the money, while the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan also agreed to contribute. The funds for Ukraine come at a crucial juncture for Kyiv as questions swirl over the future of US support once Donald Trump returns to power. The EU had originally said it was willing to provide up to $38 billion before its G7 partners announced their shares. Senior EU official Valdis Dombrovskis wrote on X that he had signed a memorandum of understanding with Kyiv on the 18.1 billion euros «to help Ukraine cover immediate needs». Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal welcomed what he called a «bold step» by the EU. «This is not just aid -- it's a precedent for holding Russia accountable for its crimes and ensuring it pays for its brutal war of aggression,» Shmygal wrote on X. The EU has frozen roughly $235 billion of Russian central bank funds since the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the vast bulk of immobilised Russian assets worldwide. About 90 percent of the funds in the EU are held by international deposit organisation Euroclear, based in Belgium. The latest EU funds come on top of roughly 120 billion euros of support that officials say the EU and its member states have provided Kyiv since Russia's invasion. © Agence France-Presse

Namibia's opposition called for extended voting and ballot counting to be suspended Thursday after the national election was thrown into disarray by logistics failings and massive delays. The presidential and legislative polls are a key test for the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) party that has governed the mineral-rich country since independence 34 years ago and is facing its toughest election challenge yet. Some voters queued through the night after authorities allowed polling stations to remain open beyond the scheduled closing time of 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) Wednesday because of the long lines of people still waiting to cast their ballots. Polling stations that processed all their voters meanwhile began tallying the votes. «We've got polling stations that are releasing results, we've got polling stations that are telling us that they were told to stop with the counting of votes,» said Christine Aochamus of the main opposition party, Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). «We've got polling stations that are still allowing people to cast votes, and we've got polling stations where people are lining up and there are no ballots,» she said. «We are going to demand the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to cease the counting of votes and also to stop the current voting process that is taking place at various polling stations across the country,» she told a press conference with 18 other opposition parties. Armed with folding chairs and umbrellas to cope with the slow-moving lines and blazing sun, Namibians among the 1.5 million registered voters spent hours waiting outside polling stations on Wednesday, some for up to 12 hours. At the University of Science and Technology in the capital Windhoek, voting stopped at 5:00 am on Thursday, polling officers told AFP. «It's absolutely disappointing,» said Reagan Cooper, a 43-year-old farmer among the hundred or so voters outside the town hall polling station in Windhoek. «The voters have turned out, but the electoral commission has failed us,» Cooper told AFP. - 'Frustrate voters' - The IPC is among those who have blamed the electoral body for the long lines and have raised suspicions of foul play. «We have reason to believe that the ECN is deliberately suppressing voters and deliberately trying to frustrate voters from casting their vote,» said Aochamus. The IPC's leader, former dentist and lawyer Panduleni Itula, is perhaps the strongest challenger to SWAPO's candidate, vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who could become the first woman to lead the sparsely populated nation. Analysts have said Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, could be forced into a second round if she does not win more than half of votes. The long queues were «a signal that people really want a change», said Ndumba Kamwanyah, lecturer in the Department of Human Sciences at the University of Namibia. «For me, it seems it's not good news for the incumbent party,» he told AFP. - Youth unemployment - SWAPO has governed since leading Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990 but complaints about unemployment and enduring inequalities are undermining its standing. Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but not many of its nearly three million people have benefited from that wealth in terms of improved infrastructure and job opportunities, analysts say. Young people are particularly frustrated with unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds, estimated at 46 percent, almost triple the national average, according to the latest figures from 2018. © Agence France-Presse

Representatives from Seychelles' Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and the Environment responsible, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector attended a stakeholders workshop on the presentation of findings of ongoing consultancies under the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF-EAS) project. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the GBF-EAS project is advancing readiness and early actions to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The project focuses on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) alignment, monitoring systems, policy and institutional coherence, and biodiversity finance. Key findings from three critical studies were presented, namely the National Biodiversity Assessment for Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems. This assessment evaluates the status and trends of Seychelles' biodiversity, identifying threats, gaps, and priority actions to inform the NBSAP. The second one is a Feasibility Study on Biodiversity Finance Initiatives in the Cruise Ship and Shipping Industry. The study examines the sector's impacts on biodiversity and explores the potential implementation of a cruise ship levy as part of the Seychelles Biodiversity Finance Plan (2019). The principal secretary for Environment, Denis Matatiken, clarified that at this point in time, this study regarding a cruise ship levy is only a proposal that is being looked at, it is not something that is being proposed. «We have a biodiversity finance plan and this gives you different solutions that can be implemented. From the 2019 plan, there were 9 proposed solutions. These are mainly based on how a country can raise funds for biodiversity conservation by itself and not rely fully on foreign aid,» said Matatiken. The results of the last study presented was Gaps and Needs Assessment of Policy and Institutional Mechanisms on Biodiversity. This is a comprehensive review of legal and policy frameworks to identify alignment with the Global Biodiversity Framework and provide recommendations to address institutional gaps and promote biodiversity mainstreaming. Matatiken said, «Apart from the development of the NBSAP, this workshop is also an opportunity to consult a large number of stakeholders and experts private and public in this sector, especially regarding the results of the studies.» 

Tens of thousands of Lebanese displaced by the war between Israel and Hezbollah headed back to their devastated towns and villages as a ceasefire took hold on Wednesday. Under the terms of the deal that brought the war to a halt, the Lebanese military started reinforcing its presence in the country's south, where Hezbollah has long held sway. The war escalated after nearly a year of cross-border fire initiated by the militant group in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas, whose attack on Israel in October last year sparked the war in Gaza. It killed thousands of people in Lebanon and triggered mass displacement on both sides of the border. Israel shifted its focus from Gaza to Lebanon in September to secure its northern border from Hezbollah attacks and dealt the movement a series of heavy blows. The Iran-backed group has emerged from the war significantly weakened and still mourning the killing in an Israeli air raid of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah told AFP on Wednesday that his group was cooperating on the Lebanese army's deployment in south Lebanon. There is «full cooperation» with the Lebanese state in strengthening the army's deployment, he said, adding that the group has «no visible weapons or bases» there and that «nobody can make residents leave their villages». The road from the Lebanese capital to the south has been congested since the early hours, with thousands of people heading home. AFP journalists saw cars and minibuses packed with people carrying mattresses, suitcases and blankets, with some honking their horns and singing in celebration, with Hezbollah supporters declaring the truce a victory. «What we feel is indescribable,» said one Lebanese driver on the road to the south. «The people have won!» Others, however, voiced quiet desolation. Returning to his home in the southern town of Nabatiyeh, Ali Mazraani said he was shocked by the extent of the devastation from the raids. «Is this really Nabatiyeh?» he said. «All our memories of Nabatiyeh have disappeared, and we can't recognise our own town.» - Final hours - In Lebanon, more than 900,000 people fled their homes in recent weeks, according to the UN, as Israel pounded the country, focusing in particular on areas where Hezbollah holds sway. Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri called on the displaced to go back to their homes despite the devastation. «I invite you to return to your homes... return to your land,» said Berri, who led mediation efforts on behalf of his allies in Hezbollah. Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged Israel to respect the terms of the truce and said Lebanon was turning the page on «one of the most painful phases that the Lebanese have lived in their modern history». Lebanon says at least 3,823 people were killed in the country since exchanges of fire across the border began in October 2023, most of them in recent weeks. On the Israeli side, the hostilities with Hezbollah have killed at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians, authorities there say. The final hours before the truce took hold at 4:00 am (0200 GMT) on Wednesday were among the most violent particularly for Beirut, with Israeli strikes hitting areas including the busy commercial district of Hamra. Hezbollah, too, continued to claim attacks on Israel all the way up to the start of the truce. The Israeli and Lebanese militaries have both called on residents of frontline Lebanese villages to avoid returning home immediately. Hezbollah-backer Iran welcomed the end of what it called Israel's aggression in Lebanon, while Hamas said it was ready for a truce in Gaza. The truce in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, would permit Israel to redirect its efforts back to Gaza, where it has been at war with Hamas since October of last year. «When Hezbollah is out of the picture, Hamas is left alone in the fight. Our pressure on it will intensify,» Netanyahu said, adding that Israel would also focus on «the Iranian threat». Iran is the main backer of both Hezbollah and Hamas and has fired two barrages of missiles and drones at Israel since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, in response to attacks attributed to Israel. - 60 days - US President Joe Biden announced the ceasefire agreement on Tuesday. Under the deal, Israeli forces will hold their positions but «a 60-day period will commence in which the Lebanese military and security forces will begin their deployment towards the south», a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters. Then Israel will begin a phased withdrawal without a vacuum forming that Hezbollah or others could rush into, the official said. The United States is Israel's key ally and military backer, and Biden hailed the deal as «good news» and a «new start» for Lebanon. He said that the United States, with the support of France and other allies, would help to ensure the deal is implemented. Netanyahu thanked Biden for his involvement in brokering the deal, under whose terms Israel will maintain freedom to act against Hezbollah should it pose any new threat. On Wednesday, an AFP journalist saw Lebanese troops and vehicles deploying in two areas of south Lebanon. «The army has begun reinforcing its presence in the South Litani sector and extending the state's authority in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),» the military said in a statement, referring to areas south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. - 'It feels safer' - While the mood in Lebanon was of joy tempered by devastating loss, in Israel there was no indication of a return en masse of the 60,000 people forced to flee their homes by Hezbollah's fire. «On one hand, we are happy about the ceasefire because it feels safer, our children can go back to school,» said 43-year-old Yuri, a resident of kibbutz Yiron near the Lebanese border, who fled to the northern city of Haifa to escape Hezbollah's attacks. «On the other hand... Hezbollah still has forces, and we don't see when this will truly come to an end.» © Agence France-Presse  

President Bola Tinubu will begin a two-day trip to France on Thursday, the first state visit by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades, as Paris seeks to boost ties with anglophone Africa. Military coups and changing attitudes have lessened France's influence on the African continent, where several nations have turned their backs on their former colonial ruler and grown increasingly frosty towards the European Union. That makes Tinubu's visit a positive sign for French President Emmanuel Macron, who has sought a «renewal» between Paris and the African continent since his 2017 election. The trip is «an opportunity to deepen the already dynamic relationship between France and Nigeria», Macron's office said ahead of Tinubu's visit, the first by a Nigerian head of state since 2000. The west African country is the continent's leading oil producer and has a robust film industry but challenges posed by insecurity and corruption have left 129 million Nigerians -- more than half the country's population -- living below the poverty line. For Nigeria, the visit represents an opportunity to tap economic investment with Tinubu and Macron set to meet at the «Franco-Nigerian Business Council», a forum designed «to develop new partnerships between the economic players in both countries». «We have an open-door policy, and we want your investors to take advantage of it,» the Nigerian president told France's ambassador in early November, calling Macron his «good friend». – 'Colonial past'- Paris's pivot towards English-speaking Africa signals Macron's desire to reverse the country's declining influence on the continent, with visits to Nigeria in 2018, Ethiopia in 2019 and South Africa in 2021. «This is not a new trend ... but the crises in the Sahel have accelerated this dynamic,» said Togolese economist Kako Nubukpo. France suffered a blow when Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso -– all under military rule following a string of coups since 2020 –- joined together in September 2023 under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), severing ties with former colonial ruler France and pivoting towards Russia. The West African countries are all battling jihadist violence that erupted in northern Mali in 2012 and spread to Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015. Now, «France's leading trading partners in Africa are not French-speaking», Nubukpo said. Nigeria was France's number one trading partner in Africa in 2023, followed by South Africa, according to French customs authority. France still holds significant sway despite competition from China, India, and Turkey, said Alain Antil, a researcher in sub-Saharan Africa at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). This is especially true in English-speaking countries where France «is not held back by its colonial past», he told AFP. And with urbanisation and an emerging middle class, countries throughout Africa are seeking to take advantage of French investment to boost economic growth. «Between 2020 and 2050, there will be between 600 and 700 million more urban dwellers in Africa,» said Antil, adding, «it's transforming African societies and cities» which need to be built and equipped to manage the change. -'Partnership of equals'- As Africa's most populous country, Nigeria represents a promising market despite the challenges posed by insecurity and corruption. Since 2009, northern Nigeria has been plagued by various jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and a rival faction, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), as well as armed criminal groups. Tinubu, elected head of Africa's largest economy in 2023, is also the current chairman of the West African economic bloc ECOWAS. And the Franco-Nigerian Business Council, launched during Macron's 2018 presidential visit to Nigeria, is playing a leading role in encouraging investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. The French president will receive its members, including billionaire Aliko Dangote, during the official state visit with «big contracts» on the line, according to a diplomatic source who asked not to be named. This state visit with Tinubu «epitomises» France's strategy in anglophone Africa, they said, adding Nigeria «wants a partnership of equals, not a lecture», especially on human rights. Next, Paris hopes to court east Africa at the 2026 Africa-France Summit, where France sees opportunities in countries like Kenya and Zambia. © Agence France-Presse  

The official match ball that will be used during the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles has been unveiled in a ceremony held at State House on Wednesday. The custom match ball has been designed by the popular brand Adidas and will be used for all 32 matches and training during the tournament, which will be held in Seychelles from May 1 to 11, 2025. The ball CNXT24 PRO BCH showcases the event's striking logo within a vibrant design that reflects beach soccer's rich heritage and celebrates the country's first-ever FIFA tournament. Crafted with cutting-edge innovation and precision, the ball's unique weight distribution will allow the game's most skillful stars to flourish and encourage goals galore on Seychelles' glorious sands. The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, welcomed the unveiling of the match ball, re-iterating the government's support for the tournament, which will be the first to take place on the African continent. «It's a beautiful ball. I love the purple, but I wish there was a little turquoise next to white, to show the Seychelles' scene,» he said. Before officially presenting the ball to the President of Seychelles, the President of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF), Elvis Chetty, shared that Seychelles hosting this event shows the growing popularity of the sport and highlights Seychelles as a lively and idyllic venue for international sporting occasions. The custom match ball has been designed by the popular brand Adidas and will be used for all 32 matches. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY  «Seychelles is set to leave a significant impression on the global football scene, captivating audiences and earning admiration from fans around the world,» said Chetty. «Our charming island nation will certainly be in the spotlight as we demonstrate our warm hospitality and love for the beautiful game,» he added. Chetty explained that the ball has some innovative attributes, including improved grip, durability, and precision flight, which are specifically crafted to meet the demands of the fast-paced beach soccer format, ensuring an exhilarating experience for both players and fans. Tahiti, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belarus, Senegal, and Mauritania, have already qualified for the 16-team tournament, leaving another eight places available, while Seychelles as the host, has already qualified. Chetty told reporters that Seychelles will soon be appointing two international coaches with plenty of experience to work with the local coaches with the national team, as they prepared to take on one of the biggest tournaments in the country's history. Over the next few months, a lot more about the tournament will be unveiled, with posters, mascot and more to be presented. Meanwhile, work on the stadium that will be used for the Tournament called Paradise Arena, is set to begin as of January 2025. 

An Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) steering committee is in Seychelles discussing the future of cultural and creative industries projects in the region for the coming year. This is part of a partnership project between the IOC and the French Development Agency (AFD) - IOC-AFD - which aims to promote gender equality and stimulate the cultural and creative industries (ICC) sectors through interventions in the areas of heritage, cultural entrepreneurship, training, mobility, co-creation, and governance. Through the project, the IOC has launched five grants, namely the AléVini, regional mobility fund, Tafa scholarships, support for cultural events, support for digital works and the Indian Ocean co-creation fund. The meeting at the International Conference Centre from November 26 to 27,  is being attended by representatives of culture and the cultural creative industries from the six member countries. These are Mauritius, Reunion - a French Overseas Department - Seychelles, Comores, Mozambique and Madagascar. In his speech to officially launch the regional cultural and creative industries development project, the permanent liaison officer for the IOC in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ralph Agrippine, said «The actions carried out by the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) development project are perfectly in line with the priorities of the Seychelles' IOC presidency. [...] The project is currently carrying out an inventory of the country's traditional architecture, which has demonstrated the potential for tourist circuits, but which could also be the subject of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.» Agrippine also explained that since the launch of AléVini in September 2023, there has been an increase in the number of applications from Seychelles, which he said was proof of the sector's enthusiasm and need for support. Over the coming days, the representatives will discuss the topics of copyright, scholarships, and how to improve in the coming year to better answer the needs of those industries in the region, among others. The IOC is also setting up a training course on cultural management, which will professionalise the sector. Agrippine is appealing to operators and artists to take advantage of these opportunities to strengthen their production, for products of Seychellois production on the regional and international scene. Meanwhile, candidates who have successfully applied for the project were also revealed. These are the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and Arts (SNICHA), the Seychelles Institute of Arts and Design (SIAD), the Creative Seychelles Agency (CSA), Tipik Seychelles, Fondasyon Kiltir Kreol and Artistic Dance Factory, as well as individuals - Martin Kennedy, Johnny Volcere and Devin Malcouzane.

Donald Trump threatened to begin his presidency with a massive trade war -- and diplomatic crisis -- as he demanded China, Canada and Mexico stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States or face punitive US import tariffs. In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform late Monday, the president-elect warned he would impose trade barriers on the top three US trading partners the day he takes office. China quickly responded Tuesday that «no one will win a trade war,» while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that tariffs were «not acceptable» and no way to address immigration and drug problems. A Canadian government source said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trump and had a «productive» discussion, without giving further detail. Trump's posts signaled he intends to return immediately to the style of his first presidency, when he regularly shocked Washington and US partners around the world with major policy shifts announced at odd hours on social media. If enacted, the tariffs would spark disruption across the global economy, deepening tensions with US rival China and upending relations with the two huge US neighbors. However, the threat backs up one of Trump's main promises in his campaign against Democrat Kamala Harris, which was to use US economic muscle as leverage on issues having little to do with trade -- namely his claim that the United States is under siege by foreign crime and dangerous migrants. «On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 percent tariff on ALL products coming into the United States,» Trump posted. «This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!» he said. «We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!» In another post, Trump said he would also be slapping China with a 10 percent tariff, «above any additional Tariffs,» because the world's second biggest economy was failing to execute fentanyl smugglers. «Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through,» he said. Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China's embassy in the United States, told AFP that «China believes that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature.» Mexico's Sheinbaum fired back at Trump, saying his tariffs diplomacy was misguided. «President Trump, it is not with threats or tariffs that the migration phenomenon will be stopped, nor the consumption of drugs in the United States,» she told reporters, reading a letter she will send to Trump in which she proposes dialogue. «It is not acceptable and would cause inflation and job losses in the United States and Mexico,» she said. - Bluster or serious? - William Reinsch, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Trump's Truth Social threats may be bluster -- a strategy of «threaten, and then negotiate.» However, Trump's first term in the White House was marked by an aggressive and protectionist trade agenda that also targeted China, Mexico and Canada, as well as Europe. While in the White House, Trump launched an all-out trade war with China, imposing significant tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods. China responded with retaliatory tariffs on American products, particularly affecting US farmers. Economists say tariffs can hurt US growth and push inflation, since they are primarily paid by importers bringing the goods into the United States, who often pass those costs on to consumers. Trump has said he will put his commerce secretary designate Howard Lutnick, a China hawk, in charge of trade policy. Lutnick has expressed support for a tariff level of 60 percent on Chinese goods alongside a 10 percent tariff on all other imports. © Agence France-Presse

Fewer people contracted HIV last year than at any point since the rise of the disease in the late 1980s, the United Nations said Tuesday, warning that this decline was still far too slow. Around 1.3 million people contracted the disease in 2023, according to the new report from the UNAIDS agency. That is still more than three times higher than needed to reach the UN's goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Around 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses last year, the lowest level since a peak of 2.1 million in 2004, the report said ahead of World AIDS Day on Sunday. Much of the progress was attributed to antiretroviral treatments that can reduce the amount of the virus in the blood of patients. Out of the nearly 40 million people living with HIV around the world, some 9.3 million are not receiving treatment, the report warned. And despite the global progress, 28 countries recorded an increase in HIV infections last year. Efforts to make preventative treatment called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) available in these countries has seen «very slow progress», the report pointed out. «Only 15 percent of people who need PrEP were receiving it in 2023,» the report said. UNAIDS deputy director Christine Stegling said that «progress has been driven by biomedical advances, advances in the protection of human rights and by community activism». «But big gaps in the protection of human rights remain, and these gaps are keeping the world from getting on the path that ends AIDS,» she told an online press conference. She warned that if current trends continue, «we will end up with a much, much higher number of people living with HIV, long after 2030». UNAIDS emphasised how laws and practices that «discriminate against or stigmatise» people with HIV were hindering the fight against the disease. It pointed to how Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act, one of the harshest anti-gay laws in the world, led to sharp drop in PrEP access since coming into force last year. Axel Bautista, a gay rights activist from Mexico City, pointed out that same-sex relations are banned in 63 countries. «Criminalisation exacerbates fear, persecution, hate, violence and discrimination and has a negative impact on public health,» he told the press conference. - 'Game-changer' new drug - A new drug called lenacapavir, which early trials have found is 100 percent effective in preventing HIV infection, has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the battle against the disease. But concerns have been raised over its high price -- US pharmaceutical giant Gilead has been charging around $40,000 per person per a year for the drug in some countries. Last month Gilead announced deals with generic drugmakers to make and sell the drug at lower costs in some lower-income countries. However activists have warned that millions of people with HIV will not be covered by the deals. Stegling said that such «game-changers will really only get us to the right reduction in new infections when we make sure that everybody will have access to them». UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima did not attend the press conference. Byanyima revealed last week that her husband, veteran Ugandan opposition politician Kizza Besigye, was «kidnapped» in neighbouring Kenya earlier this month. UN rights chief Volker Turk has been among those calling for the Ugandan government to release Besigye, who appeared in a military court in the capital Kampala last week. © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles Coast Guard vessel, Saya de Malha, left on Monday on its latest recovery mission of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the island nation's waters, namely the outer islands.  The crew, who will be participating in the 21-day mission, was seen off at the Seychelles Coast Guard Base by Jean-Francois Ferrari, Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, and Dr. Jan Robinson, the chief executive of the Seychelles Fisheries Authority (SFA). In addition to a scientific observer and a senior fisheries scientist from the SFA,  four students and a lecturer from the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) are taking part in the recovery mission. This is the third FAD Watch recovery expedition since the Sustainable Indian Ocean Tuna Initiative (SIOTI), the SFA, and the Spanish Association of Tuna Freezers (AGAC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July 2023. Keeping drifting fish aggregating devices (dFADs) from becoming stranded and entangled in coral reefs, shallow water habitats, and coastal zones is the goal of the MOU. The area of focus for this third mission will be the outer islands, where the crew will intercept and recover FADs at drift that pose a risk of stranding in the shallow marine habitats. Fish aggregating devices are man-made and usually floating wooden structures with hanging nets to attract fish. These rafts can either be free-floating, known as drifting FADs, or anchored to the seabed, known as anchored FADs. Undersea life and marine creatures, including turtles and sharks, congregate around FADs and can become entangled in the floating nets attached to FADs. During the send-off, the CEO of the SFA provided the crew with everything they required for their trip. These consisted of neoprene vests, water shoes, and sunscreen. Robinson told the students to thoroughly appreciate the experience while keeping in mind their main purpose which is to collect as many FADs as possible «You've got all the tools at your disposal and what we want to see at the end of the mission is a lot of important information coming back from you, in particular from SFA to provide that information to us,» said Robinson. He added, «It's really important we know everything you are doing on a daily basis to try and locate and recover FADs so that we can report that to those who put the FADs in the water in the first place about how difficult it is to collect these devices.» Ferrari wished the team success and advised them to exercise prudence while at sea. He also expressed his gratitude to the SMA and SCG for their continued support and hoped that by the conclusion of the trip, the students would have learned new things and be ambassadors for these kinds of projects.  

After a five-year hiatus, Seychelles will once again host the Ocean Festival, originally known as SUBIOS (Sub Indian Ocean Seychelles), which has evolved over the years to encompass a wider range of activities and sectors, from sailing and watersports to sustainable seafood gastronomy and diving. This year's festival will take place from Thursday, November 28, to Saturday, November 30, and will showcase the diversity, beauty, and fragility of Seychelles' marine ecosystem, with a focus on sustainability, education, and community engagement. This year, the festival will be held under the theme «Safeguarding Our Oceans». The director general for Destination Marketing at Tourism Seychelles, Bernadette Willemin, said that this festival is important in promoting the country's biggest asset - the ocean. «The most important aspect of this festival that we must highlight is the collaboration between NGOs, government entities, and tourism establishments. This richness from our oceans, it is important that we are able to protect it and that everyone works together to do so,» said Willemin. She added: «It is important that we safeguard it for our children in the future. And we have many partners who will be participating in the festival, who normally ensure on a daily basis that the ocean is protected.» Apart from exhibitions at the National History Museum and the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort, there will also be a number of beach cleanups that will be done on the main inner islands as well as on the outer islands. The main sponsor of the Ocean Festival is the Save Our Seas Foundation, founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 2003, which has a research centre based on D'Arros Island. A representative of Save our Seas, Sheril De Commarmond, called on the public to «attend these events, especially with their families. There will be many interesting things, including new ideas that we are looking to introduce including Virtual Reality Sets. This is for those who are not able to put their head underwater to see the beauty.»   De Commarmond added that apart from the many activities planned there will also be a premiere showing of a documentary film called «Coconuts to Conservation.» Willemin said, «We made sure that the activities cater to everyone from locals to foreigners. And most importantly for the children; they are the future of our country and they therefore will be the ones continuing this in the future. We will have activities that will engage the community, such as a family fun day, community story-telling, and arts and craft workshops.» The director general for Public Education and Community Outreach from the Ministry responsible for the Environment, Jeanette Larue, said they will be promoting snorkelling ro Seychellois of all ages. Larue said soon the Ministry will be launching snorkelling as an activity part of the curriculum linked to swimming classes in schools as of next year.  They also want to promote this activity towards adults as well; where they will also have instructors present at the beach near Beau Vallon Bay during the festival to teach anyone who wishes to learn.

The October 2024 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has announced that macroeconomic imbalances are gradually easing in the region, thanks to policy adjustments. Inflation has declined in many countries, but challenges remain. International bond markets have reopened. Exchange rate pressures have partially eased since January 2024. Growth is expected to pick up modestly in 2025 (delayed but broad-based recovery next year, driven by expectations of less-frequent blackouts, macroeconomic stabilization, and more accommodative monetary policy), but with significant heterogeneity and divergent long-term patterns (resource vs. non-resource-intensive countries). The Per capita income growth is insufficient to improve living standards and there is little convergence with global income levels. Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside and include intensifying climate shocks, mpox spread, volatility in commodity prices, slowdown in advanced economies, volatile financial markets. Volatile financial markets could lead to higher sovereign risk premia. An analytical scenario built by IMF staff shows that a 150-bps increase in SSA countries’ sovereign risk premia could lead to a 0.7 percentage point decline in GDP in 2025-2026; a sharp fall in private investment (-5.2%); and a 0.7 percentage point increase in policy interest rate. In Seychelles, real GDP growth for 2024 has been revised down to 3.0 percent (compared to 3.7 percent in June 2024). This reflects lower tourist arrivals in the wake of a temporary reduction in the number of direct flights and a decline in average spending per tourist. Some recovery is expected in the last quarter of 2024. Year-on-year inflation was about 0.6 percent as of September, reflecting stable utility rates and stable or declining prices for fuel and other commodities.  Policy makers in the SSA region face with difficult tradeoffs: (i) macroeconomic stability is essential, (ii) elevated development needs (infrastructure, health, education) require additional financing and (iii) social frustration and political pressures, require better use of public resources. The region has increasingly witnessed political fragility and social unrest on the back of structural weakness as people express discontent over increasing hardships, including excessive living costs.      Monetary policy is likely to vary across the region. While most countries in the region have been “on pause,” several have tightened in 2024. Countries with still-elevated inflation may require further tightening. Those with near-target inflation can gradually ease to a more neutral stance, in close cooperation with other policies.    Challenging policy tradeoffs arise as public finances require further consolidation amid elevated spending needs. In such a context it would be important to tackle debt vulnerabilities, reduce fiscal slippages, including through domestic revenue mobilization, boost credibility, and strengthen the medium-term fiscal frameworks. Making reforms more socially acceptable requires a multipronged approach: (i) a use of fiscal policy to promote inclusion, (ii) a focus on communication and consultation strategies, (iii) an appropriate design and sequencing of reforms, (iv) a complementary and compensatory measures (e.g., social protection), and (v) a fair and transparent management of public resources. International assistance to the region has decreased, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has intensified its engagement, stepping up support in the region. More than $60 billion have been disbursed since 2020, over $5 billion disbursed in 2024, so far and 26 countries have ongoing IMF financing arrangements; of these, 11 countries have a Resilience and Sustainability Facility. The Fund program design and performance is increasingly constrained by a declining Official Development Assistance and a limited and expensive market financing terms, making it harder to strike a balance between adjustment and financing.

A senior UN official on Monday called on all parties involved in the conflict in Lebanon to «accept a ceasefire,» as new Israeli strikes targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. The violence follows top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell calling for an immediate ceasefire on Sunday and after a US envoy said last week that a deal was within grasp. «The situation remains grave across the region,» senior envoy Muhannad Hadi told the Security Council on behalf of UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland. «Israeli military operations continued across the Blue Line with Lebanon, as did the firing of rockets by Hezbollah toward Israel, including a barrage this weekend,» he said. «I welcome the ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a cessation of hostilities and urge the parties to accept a ceasefire anchored in the full implementation of UNSCR 1701,» Hadi said in the remarks. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and stipulates that only UN peacekeeping forces and the Lebanese army can be deployed in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has maintained a presence in the region, however, and Israel has been conducting ground operations against the Iran-backed militant and political group since September 30. © Agence France-Presse

A final round of talks on a treaty to curb plastic pollution opened on Monday, with deep differences between nations emerging almost immediately. The meeting started just hours after a chaotic end to the COP29 climate talks in Baku, where delegates agreed to a boost in climate funding that developing countries slammed as insufficient. Opening the plastics meeting, the Ecuadorian diplomat chairing the talks warned nations that the conference was about «far more than drafting an international treaty». «It is about humanity rising to meet an existential challenge,» Luis Vayas Valdivieso told a plenary in South Korea's Busan. Plastic pollution is so ubiquitous that it has been found in clouds, the deepest ocean trenches and even human breastmilk. And while almost everyone agrees it is a problem, there is less consensus on how to solve it. Among the most contentious issues are whether the treaty should cap plastic production, a possible ban on chemicals feared toxic to human health and how to pay for implementation. The deep differences have dogged four previous rounds of talks over the last two years, resulting in a lengthy and contradictory draft treaty running over 70 pages. Valdivieso has produced an alternative document intended to synthesise the views of delegations and move negotiations forward. But several countries, including Russia and India, immediately objected to it. «The reality is that many countries do not see themselves represented in this paper,» warned Saudi Arabia's delegation head Eyad Aljubran, speaking on behalf of the Arab group. In 2019, the world produced around 460 million tonnes of plastic, a figure that has doubled since 2000, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Plastic production is expected to triple by 2060. - 'Not going to wait' - Some countries, including the so-called High Ambition Coalition (HAC), which groups many African, Asian and European nations, want the treaty to address the entire «lifecycle» of plastics. That means limiting production, redesigning products for reuse and recycling, and addressing waste. More than 90 percent of plastic is not recycled, with over 20 million tonnes leaking into the environment, often after just a few minutes of use. On the other side are countries, largely oil producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia, who want a downstream focus on waste alone. Plastic accounts for around three percent of global emissions, mostly linked to its production from fossil fuels. The HAC wants binding global targets on reducing production and warned ahead of the Busan talks that «vested interests» should not be allowed to hamper a deal. Some observers believe the talks are likely to falter and be extended -- especially after the difficult negotiations at UN climate and biodiversity conferences in recent weeks. But by Monday afternoon, Valdivieso won agreement for negotiations to begin on the basis of his slimmed-down document. «I thank you very much for your flexibility,» he told the room. The short time frame has some environmental groups worried an agreement will be watered down to ensure something is signed. «The majority is there» for a strong treaty, said Eirik Lindebjerg, WWF global plastics policy lead. «The big question the rest of the week is whether they will move ahead with the necessary ambition or hide behind the few spoilers to water down language and make weak compromises.» Key to any accord will be the United States and China, neither of which have openly sided with either bloc. Earlier this year, Washington raised hopes among environmentalists by signalling support for some limits on production, a position that is reportedly now being rowed back. The election of Donald Trump has also raised questions about how ambitious the US delegation will be, and whether negotiators should seek their support if a treaty is unlikely to be ratified by Washington. Despite the challenging start, the UN Environment Programme chief counselled patience. «We are only in the first few hours,» said Inger Andersen, noting the Paris climate agreement had taken over two decades to reach clear targets for global warming. «We have to get something with targets and we're not going to wait 21 years for it.» © Agence France-Presse

Seychellois and Kenyan experts will soon be able to use a national biological risk assessment tool to identify key areas that would benefit from national biological risk assessment scenarios. A group of 30 experts in various fields from both countries ranging from health to agriculture are attending a five-day workshop at the Savoy Resort and Spa, in the northern Mahe district of Beau Vallon. They are the key players in their respective countries who respond in instances of biological incidents as they already work in the areas concerned with human, animal and environmental health. This is part of the European Union chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) and Centres of Excellence Project 99, which involves building capacity, and ensuring preparedness and containment in Eastern and Central African countries' biological incidents. The 11 member countries, which include Seychelles, Kenya, and Burundi, are currently working on determining areas where biological incidents may occur in the coming five years. «This training will help us map our risks, as we can see there is so much development happening that risks can be chemical or radiology or even biological,» explained Seychelles' representative, Dr. Jimmy Melanie. This workshop is specifically dealing with biological risks, which include illnesses in animals that may affect human health. Melanie said, «We are also taking into account toxins from plants, viruses, or bacteria that may have adverse effects on people's health.» He explained that Seychelles will have to identify the risks that it faces although he mentioned illnesses from animals such as the bird flu that can harm humans. «We have to work on these to prepare ourselves should there ever be a situation, we know that the policies have been decided on so that we as technicians can now take the appropriate steps,» added Melanie. Before the workshop was held in Seychelles, the experts attended a training session in Nairobi, Kenya, in June this year, where the national biological risk assessment tool was introduced. The project will go on until 2026, and it is only then that the experts will «be in a better position to help the authorities to develop a list of the biological risks that we feel we might be faced with,» said Melanie. The European Commission is funding the project and United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is assisting with the outreach to the national focal points and experts in the eleven project countries. Project 99 team leader, Scott Spence, said that at the end of the workshop, the participants «will be able to identify potential emerging biological threats and risks in the short and medium term.» During the five days, the experts will also think of the worst-case scenarios of outbreaks and how they will deal with them. «Probably one scenario will be what is the likelihood of a pandemic happening in the next five years and what will be the impacts for the Seychelles and Kenya,» said the project's key expert, Joris Sprokholt. He added that the information gathered in the workshop «is very important information for all the different stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations and expert groups like veterinarians.» Sprokholt said that during the workshop the experts will embrace the 'one health perspective'. This an approach that recognises the close connection between the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment.