The Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the French Navy have collaborated in training to mitigate the effects of oil spills in the island nation's waters. The final assessment of the training took place on Thursday at the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) base, where members of the SCG, along with other relevant partners took part in an oil spill simulation exercise. «This exercise is part of full training that started earlier this week, with the French Navy and the SCG, in relation to anti-pollution measures,» said the chief commissioner of the French Navy, Timothee Sevaistre, in an interview with the press. There are three French experts present in Seychelles to deliver the course, which features theory and practical elements. Sevaistre explained that the training is being done at the Coast Guard base because in the case of maritime pollution, they have the equipment that will be put to use in such situations. Other agencies participating in the training include the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) and the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA). «For now the training is being done at the Coast Guard base, but in the future, we would want to have a full scale exercise, where everyone will be involved,» added Sevaistre. This is the first time that such an exercise has taken place in Seychelles and it is now becoming even more important for the island nation to be prepared for an oil spill. This is especially important with the situation in the Red Sea, which is causing many more ships to use routes closer to Seychelles' waters and there is the threat that oil spills can become more common. Sevaistre explained that France and Seychelles will continue to work together to ensure that the proper equipment is available and  properly maintained, so that they are ready for use in any eventualities. While this is the first practical oil spill exercise done in Seychelles, with the French partnership, in 2023, Seychelles was part of a table-top exercise, dubbed the 'Western Indian Ocean Pollution Regional Exercise (WIOPOLREX). The exercise was organised jointly by the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles and the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar. Through the exercise, the two regional centres were able to assess preparedness to respond to oil pollution incidents in the region, similar to the incident on July 25, 2020, where MV WAKASHIO spilled approximately 1,000 metric tonnes of oil at sea, off the southeastern coast of Mauritius.

The activity of the eruption at the Sundhnúkagígar crater row has not changed much, but it seems that the crater‘s wall has risen since yesterday.

Bob Cole, whose voice and lively language were the Saturday night soundtrack to hockey games over a broadcasting career that spanned more than half a century, has died. 

The Department for Education (DfE) said it will 'continue to listen to views and look at alternative systems', but it believes there are 'significant benefits' to headline grades.

Ahmed Ali Alid, a 45-year-old from Morocco, tried to kill his housemate, a Christian convert, by stabbing him in his bed as he slept.

Household Cavalry horses Vida and Quaker were two of five that were spooked as they passed through Wilton Crescent in Belgravia at 8.40am yesterday.

An armed Secret Service officer assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris was  removed from duty after he got into a physical fight with fellow agents on Monday.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended a key suspect in connection to the attack on the Indian High Commission in London last year. Identified as Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in the UK, he was taken into custody for involvement in unlawful activities during protests on March 22, 2023, in London, as per the agency's statement.

Indian PM Narendra Modi recently had a phone call with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni to mark Italy's 79th Liberation Day. Modi expressed gratitude for the G7 Summit invitation in June in Puglia, Italy. The leaders focused on carrying forward India’s G20 Presidency initiatives, particularly in support of the Global South, during Italy’s G7 Presidency.

Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted a joint search operation in Uri, Baramulla on Thursday and one suspected individual was apprehended. The search operation was initiated based on specific inputs from intelligence agencies, Indian Army's Chinar Corps said. The security forces also found one pistol and other war-like stores.

Mounties on Vancouver Island have confirmed that two bodies recovered by United States authorities earlier this week are those of a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia.

Dozens of inmates were transported from a northern Alberta correctional centre earlier this week because of a wildfire.

Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.

A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.

MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.

The cosmonauts installed the device for observing the Earth's surface during their previous spacewalk on October 26, but attempts to unfold it automatically and then manually were unsuccessful

He will be the mentor of the so-called World Team, while the Team Russia will be led by prominent boxer]Kostya Tszyu

The resolution passed in a 493-11 vote, with 18 abstentions

The 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues took place in St. Petersburg on April 23-25

The number of operational and combat training activities in Poland and the Baltic states increases every year, the Belarusian President noted

[New Times] Latest data from Rwanda Biomedical Centre, as reported by The New Times in its April 24 edition, indicates that malaria cases in the country dropped by a staggering 88% in 2023.

[Crisis Group] Disputes over water in the northern tip of Cameroon turned deadly in 2021, taking on a troubling ethnic dimension. The authorities have striven to contain the fighting, but to be sure of preventing a recurrence, they need to address the conflict at its roots.

[RFI] The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is accusing Apple of using «illegally exploited» minerals extracted from the country's embattled east in its products, lawyers representing the African country said on Thursday.

Americans are delaying having children or giving up on the notion entirely Read Full Article at RT.com

Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief Vladimir Zaluzhny, slated to become ambassador in London, has been suspiciously absent from public eye Read Full Article at RT.com

The June 2024 European elections are the focal point for a broader renewal of the leadership of all the European Union's main institutions. This timeline sets out the main steps up until the end of 2024, with likely timings. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The opportunity to be involved in political life is at the heart of what it means to live in a democracy, whether by standing for elected office, joining a political party, or following political news in the media. People with disabilities are active citizens who are keen to participate given the right opportunities. However, legal, administrative, institutional and accessibility barriers can still prevent them from taking part in elections. To nurture democratic societies in which all members can participate fully, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union are striving for full inclusion of people with disabilities. Through its Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN promotes the political participation of people with disabilities. Through its Charter of Fundamental Rights, the EU guarantees each and every citizen the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament and the right to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal elections. The European Commission's 2021 2030 strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities commits the EU and its Member States to making those rights a reality. With the European elections fast approaching in June 2024, the European Parliament is renewing its commitment to ensuring the equal participation of people with disabilities in this major European political event. This updates a briefing published in May 2023. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The international donor-backed Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF), designed to address the country's most urgent needs, has allocated 3 million U.S. dollars to help address the anticipated flooding, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Jowhar (HOL) - Shabelle River has flooded multiple areas near Jowhar town in the Middle Shabelle region over the past few hours, according to the local officials.

Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali government has reinforced a policy prohibiting its agencies from conducting meetings outside the country. This announcement comes as Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre prepares for his first official visit to Kenya since taking office.

China has lambasted Washington amid the latter’s wargames with the Philippines, accusing the US of undermining regional peace and stability Read Full Article at RT.com

This year’s elections could put an end to global “progressive liberal hegemony,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has predicted Read Full Article at RT.com

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan, hailed India’s leadership for lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty Read Full Article at RT.com