Two Seychelles' football clubs, St. Louis and Foresters, will participate in the preliminary round of two competitions of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Champions League and Confederation's Cup, respectively. St. Louis football club, the Seychelles Premier League title holder, will compete in the Champions League with the continent league winners. The Seychelles' side has been drawn against Grupo Desportivo Sagrada Esperança (GDSE) from Angola.   GDSE finished as runner-up in the Angolan first division last season but has won the league title twice in its history. Should St.Louis get past their opponents, they will meet the winners of the match between US Zilimadjou of Comoros and Enugu Rangers of Nigeria. Zilimadjou are the Comoros League Champions, a title they have now won for the fifth time, while Rangers are the champions of Nigeria. Rangers have won the Nigerian Premier League eight times in its history and are one of the nation's top teams. Until now no club from Seychelles has ever made it to the group stage of the CAF Champions League. St.Michel came close in 2001 when they reached the final qualifying round, but lost 6-0 on aggregate to eventual winners and record champions Al Ahly of Egypt. Meanwhile, Foresters will face Orapa United of Botswana in the first preliminary round of the CAF Confederation's Cup. Orapa United FC plays in Botswana Premier League after being promoted from the country's First Division North League in the 2013–14 season. The side qualified for the Confederations Cup after losing in the country's Football Association (DA) Cup to League champions Jwaneng Galaxy. The winner of this encounter will face Dynamos of Zimbabwe or Zesco United from Zambia in the next round. Dynamos are 21 times champions of Zambia, making them its most successful club. Zesco United have won the Zambia league nine times in their history. The CAF Confederation Cup was established in 2004 from a merger of the CAF Cup and the African Cup Winners' Cup and organized by CAF. It is the second-tier competition of African club football, ranking below the CAF Champions League. The winner of the tournament faces the winner of the aforementioned competition in the following season's CAF Super Cup.

Results from an extensive seagrass distribution assessment undertaken within Seychelles' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by researchers indicate that these seagrass ecosystems are storing carbon dioxide (CO2) at a rate of 510,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. According to a joint press release from the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust (SeyCCAT) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, this is nearly the same as the annual emissions from the local energy sector and almost three times the emissions from the transport sector. Dr Gwilym Rowlands, an Earth Observation Scientist at Oxford, led the research in partnership with several local and international organisations and the German Aerospace Agency (DLR). Using satellite imagery and meticulous ground surveys, the research team mapped 1,599 square kilometres of seagrass across the EEZ of 1.4 million square kilometres. The vast area, equivalent to 29,000 football fields, was identified as a significant resource capable of storing 18.9 million tonnes of organic carbon, amounting to 69 million tonnes of CO2. The research project, titled «Seychelles Seagrass Mapping and Carbon Assessment Project», was initiated in 2020. It aligns with the government's commitment to safeguard 50 percent of its blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrass meadows, by 2025 and achieve 100 percent protection by 2030. Researchers at the D'Arros Atoll. (H. Grimmel, Save Our Seas Foundation) Photo License: All Rights Reserved  Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, made a commitment at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to move to 100 percent protection of all its mangroves and seagrass meadows. The commitment was made as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement with the goal of including these seagrass ecosystems within the Seychelles' National Green House Gas Inventory (NGGI). In supporting the country's target, the project was designed to identify the distribution and extent of seagrass habitats in Seychelles' EEZ and this would then allow the quantification of the amount and rate at which these habitats store carbon. According to the press release, «Further findings indicated that most seagrass habitats in Seychelles waters are around the Mahe Plateau Rim and the Amirantes Bank, with these areas inhabiting 32.9 percent and 30.3 percent of Seychelles seagrass, respectively.» While looking at the distribution of seagrass within the Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP), the researchers were able to identify that 99.5 percent of Seychelles seagrass habitats are luckily found within High Biodiversity Zones and Medium Biodiversity and Sustainable Use Zones as well as pre-SMSP protected areas. They however raised the concern that the most diverse seagrass meadows around Praslin and the Au Cap region, where at least seven species have been recorded, are located unfortunately within multiple-use zones. This, therefore, does not occur within an existing protected area. The extensive study, which included the work of 50 predominantly Seychellois researchers and spanned over 20 institutions, has now quantified the importance of seagrass as a blue carbon ecosystem for Seychelles. It, therefore, provides the robust science needed to inform policy decisions regarding seagrass protection in Seychelles. 

Seychelles’ Desroches Island has recorded its first sighting of a red-billed tropicbird or “payanke labek rouz” in Creole by two assistant conservation officers of the Island Conservation Society (ICS). In a press release on Thursday, ICS said the rare sighting, which is the 19th ever recorded in Seychelles, occurred recently when James Wareing was out bird-watching during the early morning hours. “I had promised Lisa, the conservation officer of ICS here on Desroches, that I would not spot a new species without her, but nature had other plans,” said joked Wareing. He had to rush back to find Elizabeth Hein (known as Lisa) so they could see the bird together. The duo was ecstatic as they together observed and photographed the distinctive bird with its striking red bill. Tropicbirds are common in Seychelles but the red-billed tropicbird, with its elegant white plumage and long tail feathers and its distinctly bright red bill, is rare. It is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe, making this sighting a significant event for bird enthusiasts. They usually nest on cliff faces, so this bird would unfortunately not have found the flat island of Desroches very appealing to stay at. Greg Berke, director for conservation and science at ICS, emphasized the importance of such sightings. “Each new species we document adds to our understanding of the island’s biodiversity. The presence of the red-billed tropicbird on Desroches highlights the ecological richness and the success of our ongoing conservation efforts,” he said. The Island Conservation Society (ICS) set up a conservation Centre on Desroches in 2009 and have since then been working diligently on several projects to maintain, monitor and raise awareness about the biodiversity of the island. Hein who was equally thrilled about the sighting, said, “It is moments like these that remind us why conservation work is so crucial. Every species plays a unique role in our ecosystem, and it is our duty to protect them.” All sightings of birds in the Seychelles that are seen rarely or appear out of their range are reported to the Seychelles Bird Records Committee (SBRC) that collects and assesses all records of species.

The Seychelles Supreme Court has sentenced a Nigerian national to 10 years in prison for the importation of a controlled drug, the police said in a communique on Thursday. According to the police, Godson Odinah Nwezi who lives in the Perseverance district, was sentenced on two counts, 10 years for the importation of a controlled drug and three years for the same offence. The judge presiding over the case ruled that the two sentences run concurrently, so the convict will be in prison for 10 years only. Nwezi committed the offence on October 21 last year in the southern Mahe district of Takamaka, where he was arrested and found in possession of 500.50 grammes of cocaine. During a search at his residence in Perseverance, 49.30 grammes of cocaine was seized. According to the investigation, the drug was collected by a Ugandan national named Noeline Namatovu, who was sentenced to 10 years on May 13.    

Sri Lanka's first presidential elections since an unprecedented economic crisis spurred widespread unrest will be held in September, the election commission said Friday. The election will be the first test of the public mood since the height of the 2022 downturn, which caused months of food, fuel and medicine shortages across the island nation. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, who took office after street protests forced his predecessor to flee the country, has strongly hinted he plans to run. He will face at least two rivals campaigning against austerity measures his government imposed to satisfy an International Monetary Fund bailout package. The five-week campaign announced by the commission will conclude with a September 21 vote in a country still struggling with a fragile economic recovery and endemic discontent over cost of living issues. Economic issues are expected to dominate the campaign as the country emerges from its worst-ever recession in 2022, when the GDP shrank by a record 7.8 percent. Inflation has since returned to normal levels from its peak of 70 percent at the height of the crisis. Wickremesinghe has also successfully negotiated a restructure of Sri Lanka's $46 billion foreign debt with bilateral lenders including China, following a 2022 government default. But his policies to balance the government's books by hiking taxes and withdrawing generous utility subsidies have been deeply unpopular with the public. While the months-long food, fuel and medicine shortages seen at the peak of the economic crisis are now a distant memory, many Sri Lankans say Wickremesinghe's austerity measures have left them struggling to make ends meet. Opposition parties have vowed to renegotiate terms of the $2.9 billion IMF bailout Wickremesinghe negotiated last year. The president's main challenger so far is Sajith Premadasa, 57, a one-time party ally and current opposition leader. Premadasa has vowed to continue with economic reforms and the IMF programme but pledged to cushion the public by reducing the tax increases Wickremesinghe imposed to shore up state revenue. A leftist party is also fielding its leader, 55-year-old former agriculture minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is campaigning against plans to privatise state companies Wickremesinghe took office following the government default in 2022, after a huge crowd stormed predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa's compound. Rajapaksa, who was accused of steering Sri Lanka into the crisis through economic mismanagement, temporarily fled abroad and issued his resignation from Singapore. Local elections were due to be held last year but postponed indefinitely after the government insisted it had no money to conduct a nationwide vote. More than 17 million Sri Lankans over the age of 18 are eligible to cast a ballot. The election commission has allocated $33 million (10 billion rupees) for this year's presidential poll. © Agence France-Presse

«It's going to be a beautiful success,» says Claudine Vacelet confidently of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, before pausing. «Well, with the security issues, I suppose we'll only see whether it's a success at the end.» After years of planning, the Olympic spotlight is set to finally fall on the French capital on Friday evening at 7:30 pm (1730 GMT), when a wildly ambitious opening parade on the river Seine begins. Vacelet, 77, a retired orthodontist from southwest Paris, is like many residents who are confident about the artistic flair and ability of France to put on a memorable show, but are also slightly anxious about the outcome. «But then there are always security issues nowadays. It's the world we live in,» she sighed. The centre of Paris is set to be locked down by 45,000 police and gendarmes, 10,000 soldiers, and around 22,000 private security guards on Friday evening. The sound of helicopters, sirens, and the ever-present sight of police officers in recent days has given the impression of a capital under siege, hinting at unseen threats in a city that has known numerous attacks over the past decade. «I hope the games will go well, but I am a bit worried because the world is on fire right now,» Sonia Jacob, a 42-year-old mother of three, told AFP in the northeastern 20th district. - Grumbling - The security measures and the vast scale of the opening ceremony -- nearly 7,000 athletes will sail six kilometres (four miles) down the Seine -- have tested the patience and tolerance of many locals. Most of the bridges and the river banks have been out of bounds for a week and more than 40,000 metal barriers erected along the sailing route have left some residents feeling like they are living behind bars in a zoo. Restaurants and shop owners are complaining about the impact on their businesses. The city's famously grumpy taxi drivers are on the verge of despair about the traffic and a lack of customers. And in wealthy areas, many residents let their feelings about the Games known weeks ago by leaving town for holidays. «It's hard for Parisians at the moment. Crossing the city is a real nightmare,» Jaime Castellanos, a 67-year-old painter, told AFP as he finished his shopping in southwest Paris, a short walk from the Seine. «But in terms of the image of France, I think it'll be positive.» - 'Excitement building' - There are gathering signs that after all the grumbling and the complaining this year, all the suspense and performance anxiety ahead of the start, that the city might finally be getting ready to party. Organisers have constantly stressed that pre-Olympics discontent is predictable and customary. It was the same for the Games in Sydney in 2000 and in London in 2012, they say -- both of which are now fondly remembered by locals there. Emelie Harvey, a 26-year-old who works as a florist in the 15th district of the capital, said she was indifferent about the Games until the torch relay came past her boutique at the start of the month. «You can feel there's excitement building. People love criticising the country, complaining, but I think we're going to make it a success,» she told AFP. «For us young people, it's the first time we've had a major sports event like this.» Jeanne Farret, a 47-year-old French teacher, said she had become accustomed to living with the threat of attacks and would not let it spoil her enjoyment. «I'm definitely concerned about the risk of terrorism, but no more so than in the past ten years or so,» she said. In a TV interview this week, President Emmanuel Macron urged Parisians to stay upbeat. «All of us will see from Friday why it was worth the bother,» he promised. © Agence France-Presse

Typhoon Gaemi made landfall on Taiwan's eastern coast in the early hours of Thursday, after unleashing torrential rainfall and whipping winds across the island that left two people dead. On its path to Taiwan, Gaemi had also exacerbated seasonal rains in nearby Philippines, triggering flooding and landslides that killed six. The superstorm hit Taiwan's eastern Yilan County at around 12:00 am local time Thursday (1600 GMT Wednesday), said the Central Weather Administration. «Wind and rain continue to intensify, posing a threat to various parts of Taiwan, (and its outlying islands of) Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu,» it said, calling on the public to «be on high alert». The first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan this year, Gaemi was «expected to be the strongest» one in eight years, a government forecaster told AFP. It had caused downpours and strong gusts across Taiwan before its arrival, killing one motorist in southern Kaohsiung city who was crushed by a falling tree, and a woman in eastern Hualien, authorities said. More than 200 people were injured by Wednesday evening, while more than 290,000 homes were plunged into darkness due to power outages, disaster officials said. The weather also forced the self-ruled island to cancel some of its annual Han Kuang war games -- which test preparedness for a Chinese invasion -- though an anti-landing drill went ahead as scheduled on Wednesday morning on Penghu, west of Taiwan's main island. By 8:00 pm (1200 GMT) on Wednesday, authorities had evacuated more than 8,000 people living in precarious conditions across Taiwan, particularly in Hualien -- a mountainous area with a high risk of landslides. Trains and ferry services were suspended and hundreds of international and domestic flights were cancelled on Wednesday. «We expect that the impact of the typhoon will be extended to four days (until Friday),» said Taiwan's Central Weather Administration chief Cheng Jia-ping. Schools and offices will remain closed for the second day in a row in several cities -- including Taipei -- with authorities expecting adverse weather to continue across the island. Gaemi is expected to make its way across the strait later today and hit China's eastern Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, where authorities have issued a red storm alert. - 'Exercise strong vigilance' - Gaemi swept past the Philippines, intensifying monsoons that were typical this time of the year and triggering widespread flooding in Manila that turned streets into rivers. Landslides killed six in provinces surrounding Manila, police and disaster officials said. Weather authorities in Japan's southern island region of Okinawa urged residents to «exercise strong vigilance» against storms, high waves and floods. Massive waves crashed ashore in Taiwan's northeastern Yilan county, while strong gusts whipped the rain sideways and sent signs flying. A fisher surnamed Hsu tied down his boat at a typhoon shelter in a harbour crowded with docked vessels. «I am worried about the typhoon -- the boats are my tool for making money,» he told AFP. Government offices were closed and streets emptied in the capital Taipei, while some stores had their entrances sandbagged to prevent potential floodwater. Taiwanese chip giant TSMC, the world's largest chipmaker, said it would maintain normal production and that it had «activated routine typhoon alert preparation procedures» at all fabrication plants. Taiwan is accustomed to frequent tropical storms from July to October but experts say climate change has increased their intensity, leading to heavy rains, flash floods and strong gusts. © Agence France-Presse  

Humanitarian agencies were scrambling Tuesday to send desperately needed aid to a remote area of southern Ethiopia where a landslide has killed more than 200 people in the deadliest such disaster recorded in the Horn of Africa nation. Crowds gathered at the site of the tragedy in an isolated and mountainous area of South Ethiopia regional state as residents used shovels or their bare hands to dig through mounds of red dirt in the hunt for victims and survivors, according to images posted by the local authority. So far, 148 men and 81 women are confirmed to have died after the disaster struck on Monday in the Kencho-Shacha locality in the Gofa Zone, the local Communications Affairs Department said. Images published on social media by the Gofa authority showed residents carrying bodies on makeshift stretchers, some wrapped in plastic sheeting. Five people had been pulled alive from the mud and were receiving treatment at medical facilities, the government-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier. It quoted local administrator Dagemawi Ayele as saying that most of the victims were buried after they went to help local residents hit by a first landslide following heavy rains. Dagemawi said that among the victims were the locality's administrator as well as teachers, health professionals and agricultural professionals. The UN's humanitarian response agency OCHA said more than 14,000 people had been affected in the hard-to-access area, which is roughly 450 kilometres (270 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, about a 10-hour drive. It said support for those affected was mostly being shouldered by the local community but some initial relief items had been sent by federal and regional authorities and local partners, including four trucks of supplies dispatched by the Ethiopian Red Cross for 500 households. «Agencies are ready to deliver critical supplies, including food, medical items, and water, sanitation and hygiene support,» OCHA said, adding that agencies would be assessing the scale of the impact of the tragedy, including displacement and damage to livelihoods. Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa with around 120 million people, is highly vulnerable to climate disasters including flooding and drought. - 'Landslide engulfed them' - «I am deeply saddened by this terrible loss,» Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on X. «Following the accident, the Federal Disaster Prevention Task Force has been deployed to the area and is working to reduce the impact of the disaster.» World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is Ethiopian, sent a message of condolence on X and said a WHO team was being deployed to support immediate health needs. African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat also posted a statement on X, saying «our hearts and prayers» were with the families of the victims. Firaol Bekele, early warning director at the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC), told AFP that residents had mobilised to try to save lives after four households were initially affected by a mudslide. «But they too perished when the landslide engulfed them,» he said, adding that the commission had sent an emergency team to the area, along with food and other aid for the stricken community. He said there needed to be a «solid assessment and scientific investigation» into the cause of the landslide. «An integrated, study-based solution is needed to address the risk permanently. This may include relocating the population.» - Seasonal rains cause havoc - OCHA said Tuesday that a similar, but lower-scale landslide had occurred in May in the same area, where more than 50 people had died. Seasonal rains in South Ethiopia state between April and early May had caused flooding, mass displacement and damage to livelihoods and infrastructure, it had said in May. «This isn't the first time this type of disaster has happened,» said an Ethiopian refugee living in Kenya who is from a district located near the site. «Last year in a similar disaster more than 20 people were killed and before that almost every rainy season people die because of landslides and heavy rains in that area.» In another incident in 2017, at least 113 people died when a mountain of garbage collapsed in a dump in the outskirts of Addis Ababa. The deadliest landslide in Africa was in Sierra Leone's capital in Freetown in August 2017, when 1,141 people perished. Mudslides in the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda killed more than 350 people in February 2010. © Agence France-Presse

For the first time in 48 years, a woman was the parade commander at the National Day Parade in Seychelles. Major Daina Woodcock from the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) was at the helm of the parade on June 29 this year. The parade, usually held every year since the country gained independence in 1976, did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Woodcock, a medical doctor, has made history twice. Four years ago, in March 2020, she made history for the first time by becoming the first Seychellois military medical officer in the army. Currently the only woman with the rank of major in the SDF, Woodcock said that she will «use her achievements to inspire other young women. She explained that her leading the parade can be described as a »rite of passage,« which she is proud of. Woodcock joined the army in 2010. Following infantry training, she left for her studies in Morocco to become a doctor at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat of the Royal School of the Military Health Service. After 8 years, on March 9, 2020, she took her Hippocratic Oath in Rabat. In December last year, Woodcock - then a Captain - was among 14 officers from the Seychelles Defence Forces who were promoted by the President of Seychelles and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Wavel Ramkalawan. Their promotions and commissions were given based on merit, expertise, and the exceptional leadership roles that they showed. In a special meeting recently the Minister for Youth Sports and Family, Marie-Celine Zialor, congratulated and commended Woodcock on her impressive achievement and told her that such a feat should not be undermined. »You now carry a torch for many women,« said Zialor, whose ministry holds the gender portfolio. »Your name will go down in history as you achieved something remarkable in a male-dominated field,« said Zialor. Woodcock met with Minister Zialor.  (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY  The minister has invited the army official to join her ministry's efforts and programme to empower and inspire young women to a more positive way of life. Zialor added that there are too many cases of violence against women that something must be done. Woodcock accepted the invitation, adding that she is »looking forward to working with the community and other young women to inspire them to better themselves for a better tomorrow." Woodcock, who currently manages the peripheral clinic at the Seychelles Defence Forces, said her 14-year journey has not been easy. Often, she has had to work twice as hard to prove herself, but she has remained focused and determined to rise above challenges in the pursuit of her dream. The major is also encouraging young women with the right skills and attitude to join the forces, which she said offers many opportunities, including leadership ones. This year's military parade took place along Constitution Avenue in the capital city of Victoria and consisted of 25 platoons of local and foreign military forces. The local platoons also included the Seychelles Police Force, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency and youth organisations affiliated with the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC). 

The Seychelles' Cabinet of Ministers has approved the implementation of the National Addressing System (NAS) to provide a standardised, accurate, and efficient addressing framework to improve service delivery. In a cabinet decisions press briefing on Thursday, Vice President Ahmed Afif said that Seychelles, unlike other countries, does not have a postal code, which is a combination of numbers and letters that helps postal departments and courier services determine the exact place and region where postal mail must be delivered. «Today many people do e-commerce transactions and things are ordered online. All courier and postal companies making the deliveries are asking that they know exactly where the products are going because part of their services is door-to-door deliveries. So when you give an address which is not precise example there is no number they will say they are sending couriers to a place where there is no standard in terms of addresses,» said Afif. He added that the government is introducing the standard and what this means is that there will be a postal code to indicate the district, sub-district, a specific zone in the sub-district. «The standard will be called S42, one that many countries have adopted. So all places in Seychelles will have a four-digit code. When Seychelles adopts the standard, all courier companies will know that when they send something to Seychelles, they will know where the products will be going,» said the Vice President. Afif explained that deliveries will reach individuals' homes because the Seychelles Postal System will have an internal system to to identify individual houses.   «Each house will have a number and the postman will be able to identify your house when this is introduced. An app will also be introduced to link with our Geographical Information System (GIS), which will show where a person's house is,» he added. 

The Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) has launched an appeal for assistance following the CCCL quarry company explosion on December 7, 2023, in which its headquarters was damaged.  The secretary general of RCSS, Marie-May Esparon, told reporters that over the past seven months, they have not been able to do a comprehensive renovation on the building. She explained that this was mainly due to a lack of resources and the fact that they needed to allocate what they had to people in more urgent need. «Our building is in the same state it was seven months ago, we have removed some of the larger debris. Our windows are still smashed and one of our warehouse doors is still blocked. We had to get someone to break one of the doors to access food for distribution. Our first aid kits are damaged and so are our computers. MCB (Mauritius Commercial Bank) gave us three laptops to use at the time and this is what we are using still,» Esparon explained. She said there is also a psychological aspect associated with the challenge they are facing today. «We want to fix our building. Currently, it is not conducive for our staff, especially those who were present during the explosion. Today, we are still dealing with the aftershocks of the incident because we are reminded of it daily. We have not even decided how we will move forward, especially in terms of psychological support. We have staff who have expressed their concerns,» added Esparon. Bastienne showing the damages during the visit of Steve Recca, adviser for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief initiatives, accompanied by the U.S. Charge d'Affaires for Seychelles, Adham Loufti. (Seychelles News Agency)  Photo License: CC-BY  She said that RCSS has tried to make some repairs as best it can with the limited resources but even when it rains, «the water reaches our ankles because it accumulates inside. This is the state of our building. Whoever wants to come forward to assist is welcome to do so. We also still need food donations for people in need, because apart from the explosion there are also other cases of people who need assistance and services.»    Esparon emphasised that although their building is in such a state of disrepair, they intend to continue assisting people in need who depend on the Red Cross. «We've never stopped working and giving assistance to people. When the explosion happened, we were among the first at the scene and today we are still working. From this incident, we discovered a number of social cases that we referred to ASP (Agency for Social Protection). This is why we stress the importance of continued support after disasters. These services and follow-ups are also important for people to get back on their feet. There are also assessments that we have to do,» said Esparon. She pointed out that an attempt to relocate was made but this has proven to be even more challenging due to a shortage of funds and «in the meantime, while we figure how to fix the building, we want to move, but this has been difficult. We have tried looking for somewhere else but either these places are not available or they are too expensive for us.» She confirmed that so far, they have a partner who has come forward to help them, however, they are also asking others to come forward if they can, due to the extent of the damage. Esparon said that in the meantime the Red Cross would continue to fulfil its duty and «even if our building is in this state, our priority is the people that we are assisting. They need this help and we will continue to give it until it is not needed.»

The first-ever Seychellois female Commissioner of Prison in Seychelles, Janet Georges, who took office on Tuesday, said she is ready to help society by reintegrating inmates after they have served their time in prison. Georges met with President Wavel Ramkalawan who appointed her to replace Raymond St Ange, who occupied the position, as of July 23. The Seychelles Prison Services include the main prison facility at Montagne Posee and the Bois De Rose Detention Remand Facility, both located on the main island of Mahe. Georges told reporters that her appointment is an honour and «she is not just looking at the position and the fact that I am the first woman to get it, but I am looking at it as I can work for my country, as the prisons services require much work.» Ramkalawan said, «With the level of discipline she has exhibited in sports and on the force, I am sure that she will be a capable Commissioner of Prisons.» George is a well-known athlete in weightlifting in Seychelles and on the international scene. She won a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, and four years later she grabbed a silver in Delhi, India. She has won the Seychelles' Sportswoman of the Year several times. Before assuming the position, Georges was a police officer working with the Prisons Services management team and officers for five months. «We already have a strategic plan that we are working on so we know that our vision and mission tell us to work mainly in rehabilitation,» she revealed. For the rehabilitation programme, she explained that «as long as there are people who want to come forward and help inmates, this strategy will work since our door is always open.» This will also include the strategy of restorative justice - where the victims meet the offenders. «Sometimes people act in anger and end up in prison, or there are times that they are in prison they feel like asking forgiveness from the person they have wronged,» she explained. The Prisons Services personnel will attend training sessions to get properly acquainted with the new strategy. Other facilities soon to be commissioned are high security prisons at Bonne Espoir on Mahe and another on the island of Marie Louise. The Seychelles government is funding the facility at Bon Espoir at SCR 8.7 million ($645,000) for the first phase which will include an administration block, a clinic, and the first block of 40 cells, which are expected to be completed in December of this year. «Then we will be able to build workshops and create places with enough space to allow the inmates to rehabilitate themselves,» said Georges. Georges joined the police force in 1998 and left the force for her latest appointment after reaching the Assistant Superintendent of Police level.

Vice President Kamala Harris is narrowly beating rival Donald Trump in a national presidential poll released Tuesday, one of the first conducted since US President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign. Harris holds a two-point lead over Trump, 44 percent to 42 percent, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll. It was conducted in the two days after Biden announced Sunday he was dropping out of the race and endorsing his vice president. In the previous week's poll, Harris, 59, and Trump, now the elder in the presidential race at 78, were tied at 44 percent. Harris, the overwhelming frontrunner for the Democratic nomination who is raking in endorsements and donations as well as pledged delegates, narrowly trails Republican flag-bearer Trump in another survey also released Tuesday. Both results are within the polls' margins of error. The new surveys followed both the Republican National Convention, where Trump formally accepted the party's presidential nomination, and Biden's leaving the race. Harris's performance in the polls, bolstered by the excitement among Democratic voters about the shakeup in the race, shows her apparently neutralizing the bounce that a nominee gets in the days after his or her party's nominating convention. In a PBS News/NPR/Marist poll conducted Monday, Trump edges Harris with 46 percent to 45 percent of US registered voters, with nine percent undecided. If third-party candidates or independents are included in the contest, Trump and Harris are tied at 42 percent, with the others far behind. The PBS News survey notably found that 87 percent of all Americans think Biden's decision to drop out was the right move, a view that crossed partisan and generational lines. A plurality of respondents (41 percent) said Biden's decision increases Democrats' chances of winning in November, compared to 24 percent who said it decreases the party's odds and 34 percent who said it makes no difference. Both surveys come in the aftermath of Trump surviving a shock assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13. Trump maintains a very narrow advantage of 1.6 percentage points against Harris, according to an average of polls collated by RealClearPolitics. © Agence France-Presse

A top WHO official said Tuesday he was «extremely worried» over possible outbreaks in war-torn Gaza after poliovirus was detected in the sewage, warning that communicable diseases could cause more deaths than injuries. United Nations agencies said last week that the Global Polio Laboratory Network found vaccine-derived type-2 poliovirus in six environmental samples collected from the sewage in the Gaza Strip on June 23. Ayadil Saparbekov, the World Health Organization's head of health emergencies in the occupied Palestinian territories, stressed that «we have not yet collected human samples» so it remains unclear if anyone has actually been infected with the virus. But he acknowledged to reporters in Geneva via video-link from Jerusalem, «I am very much worried». A type of vaccine against polio -- a crippling and potentially fatal viral disease that mainly affects children under the age of five -- contains small amounts of weakened but live polio which can occasionally cause outbreaks. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) replicates in the gut and can be passed to others through faecal-contaminated water -- meaning it won't hurt the child who has been vaccinated, but could infect their neighbours in places where hygiene and immunisation levels are low. While epidemiological studies and risk assessments are continuing, Saparbekov said he was deeply concerned at the prospect of any diseases spreading in Gaza, which is facing a towering humanitarian crisis after more than nine months of war following Hamas's deadly October 7 attack inside Israel. «I'm extremely worried about outbreaks happening in Gaza,» he said, pointing to the confirmation late last year that hepatitis A was spreading, «and now we may have polio». «With the crippled health system, lack of water and sanitation, as well as lack of access of the population to health services... this is going to be a very bad situation,» he warned. «We may have more people dying of different communicable diseases than from the injury-related diseases.» That says something in Gaza where more than 39,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel's retaliatory military campaign followed Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants also seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom are still in Gaza, including 44 the Israeli military says are dead. Saparbekov on Tuesday described a dire situation in Gaza, with only 16 of the territory's 36 hospitals even partially functional. WHO has long stressed the urgent need for medical evacuations from Gaza for the seriously sick and wounded. While the WHO in recent months has said around 10,000 people were waiting to leave, Saparbekov suggested the number had surged to «up to 14,000 people who may need to seek medical treatment outside of the Gaza Strip». © Agence France-Presse

Military chaplains from nine member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are currently in Seychelles to discuss various subjects related to their work. The three-day Southern African Spiritual and Moral Support Working Group meeting was launched on Tuesday at the Military Training and Support Centre, at Perseverance. Twenty-one chaplains are participating including Seychelles, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho.   The theme of the event this year is «The Role of Chaplains in the Military» and this will be the main topic of discussion over the next three days. «In the face of rapid technological advancements and evolving geopolitical landscapes, our defence forces are undergoing significant transformation,» said the Chaplain of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF),  Lieutenant Colonel Louis Agathine. He said that amid those advancements, «the human element remains at the core of our military operations, and it is within this context that the role of chaplains become profoundly significant.» Military chaplains are responsible for tending to service members' and their families' spiritual and moral well-being. Their responsibilities include performing religious rites, conducting worship services, and providing confidential counselling. Agathine added that chaplains need to be more inclusive to ensure that they provide spiritual support and ethical guidance to military members of all faiths, as well as those with no religious affiliations. «This commitment, diversity and inclusion, strengthens our military community, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding,» he said.   In the annual meeting, the chaplains will share their experiences, discuss their concerns and then each country will present a report to their respective defence ministries for further action where necessary. The SDF Chief of Staff, Jean Attala, officially opened the meeting, citing that the role of faith in the military remains a cornerstone, offering a set foundation upon which the service men and women can rely.   «While the forms of faith and belief may evolve, the fundamental human need for connection, purpose and support, remains steadfast. [...] The role of chaplains is to bridge the gap between duty and personal belief, helping individuals find meaning and resilience in the face of challenges,» he added. Two military generals among the group met with Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan on Monday at State House. Two SADC military chaplains (1 & 2nd  left) met with President Ramkalawan on Monday. (Seychelles Nation)  Photo License: CC-BY  Chaplain General Brigadier General Ernest Thabo Masweu from South Africa told reporters that their role «is to give spiritual, moral and ethical, and to some extent social support, for the well-being of service members from all ministries within the force.» 

The Seychelles Investment Board (SIB) has announced the relaunching of tender submissions for the Victoria Waterfront project for Zone B and Zone D for applicants who had previously applied only and documents have to be submitted by 10 a.m. on August 26. The SIB chief executive, Anne Rosette, made this announcement in a press conference on Tuesday and confirmed that submissions for bids for the tender process will from now on have to be submitted by the applicant or by proxy in person at the National Tender Board. «Now we have only one way for submissions to be made. The applicant has to come in person, and if they are unable to do so, they may appoint a proxy or representative. However, they must provide a letter in advance, confirming that this person is representing them. This is so that there is no confusion going forward,» she explained. The relaunch for Zone B is due to objections put forward through the appeal process during the initial bidding process. Out of the four appeals, two appeals stated that there were issues with the way submissions for bidding were done. At the time, submissions could be done in two ways; by email or physically through the National Tender Board (NTB). However, the Investment Appeal Panel concluded that this process was done in a way that was not in the interest of the bidders and that it could cause confusion. Aimed at making Victoria, the capital, livelier, the Waterfront Development project is part of the approved Victoria Masterplan 2040 and will be carried out in the area most people know as the ex-Children's Playground. Zone B comprises three plots of land to be developed for activities and entertainment and four applicants appealed the selection. Regarding Zone D, Rosette confirmed that due to delays, too much time had passed for the bidding process for this zone so SIB had to relaunch it as well. Zone D is one plot of about 17 thousand square metres dedicated to the waterfront part of the project and it includes major reclamation. «According to the procedure, a bid can remain open only for a certain time. And because of the delays with having to go through the appeals and re-launching the tender process for Zone B, too much time had passed for Zone D. Therefore, we had to close it and relaunch it as well,» she explained. Rosette confirmed there will be a review for Zone A and Zone E, to see if they will be tendered out again. These are two other zones in the waterfront project that had not received any qualifying bids during the first tender process. «We want to complete the tender process for the whole project by the end of the year. We want to clarify though, following all these procedures the applicants that will be chosen for the projects will also be advised by a technical committee that will work with them in order to ensure that this project goes well,» she said.

The US ambassador to the United Nations visited crisis-wracked Haiti on Monday, where she announced $60 million in additional humanitarian aid and received updates on the Kenya-led security support mission. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield held talks with the country's transitional presidential council and new Prime Minister Garry Conille during the day-long trip. «Haitians deserve free and fair elections and a government that is truly accountable to the people,» she said during a press conference. The ambassador also announced $60 million was being provided via USAID to contribute «significant US funding for additional security assets and humanitarian assistance for Haiti,» according to a news release. The funds will go toward food, water, shelter and other essential needs, and comes on top of $105 million the United States had previously committed to Haiti. Thomas-Greenfield's visit comes just days after recently deployed Kenyan police started patrolling parts of the capital Port-au-Prince. Kenya is deploying hundreds of police officers as part of an international force to help Haiti tackle its soaring insecurity. The country has long been rocked by gang violence, but conditions sharply worsened at the end of February when armed groups launched coordinated attacks in Port-au-Prince, saying they wanted to overthrow then-prime minister Ariel Henry. Unelected and unpopular, Henry stepped down in April, handing over control to the transitional government, tasked with leading the country toward its first elections since 2016. Conille last week announced emergency measures to combat unrest in 14 communes reeling under the control of gangs. The UN-approved, Kenya-led mission, with an initial duration of one year, will total 2,500 personnel from countries that also include Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, the Bahamas and Barbados. The United States has ruled out sending forces, but is contributing funding and logistical support to the mission, including a «significant number» of armored vehicles. The violence in Port-au-Prince has affected food security and humanitarian aid access, with much of the city in the hands of gangs accused of abuses including murder, rape, looting and kidnappings. © Agence France-Presse  

A year after deposing elected president Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's military rulers have been at pains to showcase their efforts aimed at restoring national «sovereignty» yet the country remains in thrall to jihadists. Since seizing power on July 26 last year the new government led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, former head of the presidential guard, has totally reset its international partnerships. It asked former colonial power France late last year to withdraw its troops stationed in the Sahel nation in order to fight jihadist groups. By mid-September, the US contingent deployed there will also have packed its bags leaving behind notably their important drone base at Agadez in the north. In contrast, Iran, Turkey and Russia -- partners the government deems «sincere» in building ties -- have been received with honours in the capital Niamey over the past 12 months. Russia sent military instructors in April and May. Now Niger «is in the process of recovering its sovereignty» and «unapologetically able to choose its strategic partners» within «the framework of a win-win partnership», said Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, whose media presence is far more visible than General Tiani's. «The regime shows commitment to restoring Niger's dignity and advocates balanced international cooperation,» added Mousoulmi Mallam Sita, who chairs the Nigerien Association for Civics and Growth (ANCC), which backs the new authorities. On a regional level, Niger is at odds with Benin, which it claims wants to destabilise it by hosting «French bases» -- something its neighbour denies. The main consequence is the frozen state of Nigerien oil exports, which are supposed to bring the economy a breath of fresh air. - Trial of strength - Niger has, however, engaged in some rapprochement with another two neighbours, Burkina Faso and Mali, after coups there in recent years also saw the military seize power. All three states have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), their confederation turning its back at the start of this year on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). They accuse the regional bloc of being under the thumb of France and of not providing support against jihadism. The standoff between Niamey and ECOWAS blew up following the coup as the bloc imposed tough sanctions while demanding Bazoum be restored to office. For some weeks Niger even faced the threat of an armed intervention. The sanctions were lifted in February and regular demands from the international community for Bazoum's release have gradually faded away. The deposed president remains trapped in his residence and his immunity has been lifted by a court created by the new government, paving the way for a trial on charges of «conspiracy against the authority of the state» and «high treason». Against that backdrop, aid from international organisations has resumed. The World Bank has just approved 214 billion CFA francs ($350 million) to Niger and the IMF announced a $70-million payment. - Jihadist threat - On taking power, Tiani justified the coup by the «continual degradation of the security situation» in the country under the Bazoum administration. Repeated waves of jihadist attacks have scarred Niger for more than a decade, both in the west towards Burkina Faso and Mali and also in the southeast near the border with Nigeria. A year on from the coup Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliates in the western region of Tillaberi are far from receding with the past few weeks alone seeing dozens of deaths in bloody ambushes and attacks between jihadists and the army. Despite a large-scale military deployment civilians have not been spared the violence although official victim tallies are sporadic and independent data hard to obtain. «The arrival of the military gave a glimpse of a rapid end to the attacks -- but the country still mourns,» said Amadou Hassane, from Tera in Tillaberi. «The authorities were (engaged) on several fronts and the terrorists took the opportunity to strike almost everywhere and sometimes hard,» said civil society official Ali Seyni. The government has promised «an increase in (military) power» of the army thanks to the acquisition of equipment and an increase in manpower to 100,000 by 2030 compared with 25,000 in 2022. It remains to be seen how long this «transition» will last. General Tiani -- who has never taken the oath of office -- quickly indicated «three years maximum» after taking power. But since then the authorities have remained silent on the subject. The «inclusive national dialogue» Tiani has promised is also expected to outline the «priority areas» of future governance while determining the duration of the transition. © Agence France-Press

The Bangladeshi student group leading demonstrations that have spiralled into deadly violence suspended protests Monday for 48 hours, with its leader saying they had not wanted reform «at the expense of so much blood». What began as demonstrations against politicised admission quotas for sought-after government jobs snowballed into some of the worst unrest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's tenure. A curfew has been imposed and soldiers are patrolling cities across the South Asian country, while a nationwide internet blackout since Thursday has drastically restricted the flow of information. The streets of the capital Dhaka remained largely quiet Monday, and the army chief said the law and order situation had been brought «under control» since the military was deployed. Nahid Islam, leader of the main protest organiser Students Against Discrimination, told AFP that «We are suspending the shutdown protests for 48 hours». Nahid said he was hospitalised after being beaten by people he claimed were undercover police. «We demand that during this period the government withdraws the curfew, restores the internet and stops targeting the student protesters.» On Sunday, the Supreme Court pared back the number of reserved jobs for specific groups, including the descendants of «freedom fighters» from Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war against Pakistan. «We started this movement for reforming the quota,» Nahid said. «But we did not want quota reform at the expense of so much blood, so much killing, so much damage to life and property.» At least 163 people have died in clashes, including several police officers, according to an AFP count of victims reported by police and hospitals. Sporadic violence continued Monday, with four people brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital with bullet injuries, an AFP reporter at the scene saw, but the flow of casualties was much lower than on previous days. Government officials have repeatedly blamed the protesters and opposition for the unrest. Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Faruk Hossain told AFP that «at least 532» people had been arrested in the capital since protests began, including some leaders of the opposition Bangladesh National Party. Ali Riaz, a professor of politics and leading Bangladesh expert at Illinois State University, described the violence as «the worst massacre by any regime since independence». «The atrocities committed in the past days show that the regime is entirely dependent on brute force and has no regard for the lives of the people,» he told AFP. «These indiscriminate killings cannot be washed by a court ruling or a government announcement.» - Diplomatic questions - Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus urged «world leaders and the United Nations to do everything within their powers to end the violence» in a statement. The respected 83-year-old economist is credited with lifting millions out of poverty with his pioneering microfinance bank but earned the enmity of Hasina, who has accused him of «sucking blood» from the poor. «Young people are being killed at random every day,» Yunus told AFP. «Hospitals do not reveal the number of wounded and dead.» Diplomats in Dhaka questioned Bangladeshi authorities' deadly response to the protests. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud summoned ambassadors for a briefing on Sunday and showed them a 15-minute video that sources said focused on damage caused by protesters. US ambassador Peter Haas told Mahmud he was presenting a one-sided version of events, according to a senior diplomatic official. «I am surprised you did not show the footage of police firing at unarmed protesters,» the source quoted Haas as telling the minister. A US embassy official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the ambassador's comments. The diplomatic source added that Mahmud did not respond to a question from a UN representative about the alleged use of UN-marked armoured personnel carriers and helicopters to suppress the protests. Bangladesh is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping operations around the world -- earning significant revenues from its efforts -- and has UN-marked equipment in its military inventories. - 'Sheikh Hasina never flees' - With around 18 million young people in Bangladesh out of work, according to government figures, the quota scheme's reintroduction deeply upset graduates facing an acute jobs crisis. The Supreme Court curtailed the number of reserved jobs from 56 percent of all positions to seven percent, mostly for the children and grandchildren of «freedom fighters» from the 1971 war. While 93 percent of jobs will be awarded on merit, the decision fell short of protesters' demands to scrap the «freedom fighter» category altogether. Critics say the quota is used to stack public jobs with loyalists to Hasina's ruling Awami League. Opponents accuse her government of bending the judiciary to its will. Hasina, 76, has ruled the country since 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote without genuine opposition. Her government is also accused by rights groups of misusing state institutions to entrench its hold on power and stamp out dissent, including by the extrajudicial killing of opposition activists. The violence of recent days raised speculation about her future, but she told an audience of businessmen Monday: «Sheikh Hasina never flees.» © Agence France-Presse

A group of professionals working in cybersecurity are participating in the second edition of the National Cyber Drill 2024, an exercise to test and assess the capabilities of these professionals in Seychelles to ensure the country's readiness against cyberattacks. During his opening speech, the principal secretary for the Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT), Benjamin Choppy, emphasised the importance of maintaining vigilance and readiness in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats. «It is crucial for us to test and refine our incident response plans and procedures at a national level in a controlled environment. Exercises like this simulate real-world cyber threats, helping us to identify weaknesses in our defences, improve coordination among different response teams, and enhance our overall preparedness against increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks,» he said. The first edition of the National Cyber Drill was held in June last year, and Choppy added that based on feedback they received, this year they improved several aspects of the exercise. «Reflecting on the success of the first National Cyber drill in 2023, DICT has carefully considered the feedback from participants. As such, this year's cyber drill will be a more technical one. We have incorporated more technical exercises to provide you with enhanced hands-on experience,» said the principal secretary. «A successful cyber attack can severely impact our country, which is why safeguarding our critical information infrastructures is paramount. This year, we have ensured that participants come from both the public and private sectors, covering the different critical information infrastructure institutions or providers,» he stressed. The director for policy strategy and research at the DICT, Beryl Payet, told reporters that it was especially important to have professionals who form part of Seychelles' critical information infrastructures, such as banks, telecommunication as well as law enforcement, participate in this exercise. «This exercise will be done in a virtual environment; the participants will be separated into different teams. Then there will be simulations of different types of attacks against them that they will have to defend against,» she said. The cyber drill exercise is being done in collaboration with the Computer Emergency Response Team of Mauritius (CERT-MU), a team led by the head of CERT-MU, Dr Kaleem Usmani. Speaking to reporters, Usmani used the example of ransomware to explain the importance of such exercises. «These scenarios like ransomware, ransomware is very rampant, is very sophisticated. It is very complex. And since we are talking about the critical infrastructures, they are running the essential services in the country. Then in that case, it is best that these kinds of threats should be, in a way, discussed and their solutions and counter majors need to be understood by these critical sectors. So, this is a prominent threat, and that's why it is on board, and not only here around the world, all the different countries, they are building resilience around how to handle ransomware,» Usmani added. Usmani clarified that apart from ransomware, they will also be covering a variety of other kinds of virtual attacks such as malware and phishing, which is a scam through email to trick the recipient into sharing sensitive information, usually by impersonating a company or trusted individual.

The Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) recently signed two memorandums of understanding (MOU) to enhance the use of local currencies in settling cross-border financial, commercial transactions, interlinking payment and messaging systems between the two countries. According to a joint press communique from the CBS and CBUAE, the MOUs were signed in Abu Dhabi, on July 18, by the governor of the CBS, Caroline Abel, and for the CBUAE, by governor Khaled Mohamed Balama. Through the first MOU, a framework will be set up to promote the use of local currencies in settling bilateral commercial transactions, develop the exchange market and facilitate bilateral trade and direct investment, remittance settlement, and financial market development. It will also include several elements to facilitate the settlement of commercial transactions in the UAE Dirham and the Seychelles Rupee in accordance with the laws and legislation in each country. Under the second MOU, both parties will consolidate cooperation and mutual benefit from the services of instant payment platforms, electronic switches and messaging systems, by directly linking them with the regulatory requirements in the two countries. This includes interlinking the Instant Payments Platform (IPP), which the Central Bank of the UAE is developing within the Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme, and a similar platform in Seychelles. Additionally, interlinking between systems and electronic switches to facilitate mutual acceptance of local cards and processing of their transactions, to exploring the possibility of linking messaging systems and cooperation in the field of FinTech and Central Bank Digital Currencies. The governor of the CBS said that for small open island economies like Seychelles, the importance of an effective and efficient financial system to facilitate trade cannot be overemphasised. «In this regard, the MOUs just signed between our two central banks, guided by the relevant and applicable laws to safeguard the soundness and integrity of our respective financial systems, can assist this endeavour. The agreement to develop and gradually implement the necessary framework to promote the use of our respective national currencies, the UAE Dirham and the Seychelles Rupee, in cross-border transactions can further facilitate trade relations between stakeholders across the two jurisdictions,» she added. Abel said with CBS spearheading efforts to modernise and develop the Seychelles national payment system, in line with the government's digital economy agenda, the opportunity to collaborate on interlinking its payment and messaging systems will facilitate the processing and settlement of cross-border financial transactions between the two countries. «We look forward to learning from the experiences and expertise of the Central Bank of the UAE as we endeavour to keep pace with developments within the global payment landscape and further leverage technology and innovation for more seamless processing and settlement of payments, including cross-border payments,» she added. Meanwhile, Balama said, «The signing of the Memorandums of Understanding reflects the Central Bank's keenness to expand its relations with regional and international counterparts, to enhance UAE's economic and commercial partnerships globally.» He added that: «The use of the two countries' currencies for cross-border financial and commercial transactions reflects the growing trade, investment, and financial cooperation and contributes to reducing costs and saving time in settling transactions. This helps in developing the foreign exchange market in the UAE Dirham and the Seychellois Rupee, to enhancing trade exchanges, investments, and remittance between the two countries.»

Joe Biden on Sunday dropped out of the US presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's new nominee, in a political earthquake that upends the already extraordinary race for the White House. Biden, 81, said he was acting in the «best interest of my party and the country» by bowing to weeks of pressure after a disastrous June debate against Donald Trump stoked worries about his age and mental fitness. The stunning move throws Democrats into fresh turmoil ahead of the November 5 election. But it could also reenergize the demoralized party, with Harris swiftly confirming her goal to become America's first woman president and to «defeat Donald Trump.» Trump reacted with a stream of posts on his Truth Social network, saying that because Biden is not «fit to run» for president, he is also not «fit to serve.» However, the dramatic shift will wrong-foot Republicans, whose campaign was solely focused on Biden and will now instead feature 78-year-old Trump -- the oldest presidential nominee in US history -- up against a far younger opponent. The move also transforms what had been a highly unpopular and dragging Trump-Biden rematch into one of the most compelling presidential campaigns in modern American politics. Biden's withdrawal had been widely expected at some point. The announcement finally came with no warning as he recovered from Covid at his Delaware beach house. In a letter posted on X, Biden said it had been the «greatest honor of my life» to be president. He said he would address the nation later this week. The White House later said he had no public events scheduled for Monday. «While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,» he wrote. Shortly after, he offered his «full support and endorsement» for Harris, with his campaign filing official notice to change its name to «Harris for President.» Endorsements began streaming in for Harris almost immediately from Democratic big shots as well as those seen as potential rivals for the nomination, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Democratic fundraising group ActBlue meanwhile reported that Harris received $46.7 million in small-donor contributions in the hours just after announcing her campaign -- its «biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle.» - 'Unite our nation' - Democrats must now scramble to confirm a new candidate at their party convention in Chicago on August 19. Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman vice president in US history, praised Biden for his «selfless and patriotic act» and vowed to «earn and win» the nomination. Still highly influential former Democratic president Barack Obama cautioned that «uncharted waters» lie ahead. Biden's decision came after a period of enforced isolation, with only a few family members and aides around him to consult at his Rehoboth Beach home, as he nursed a Covid infection. First Lady Jill Biden reacted by simply reposting his statement, along with two hearts. In a clear sign of how Republicans will try to frame Harris's image, Trump's new running mate J.D. Vance underlined that she had been «every step of the way» with Biden, «the worst president in my lifetime.» - 'Mental decline' - Biden's decision to exit caps a tense and chaotic period in the US election, with Trump having survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13, and Democrats tearing themselves apart for weeks over whether Biden should quit. The Democrat is the first president in US history to drop out so late in an election race. Biden spent more than three weeks resisting calls to step down following the shock of the June 27 debate, during which he often lost his train of thought and stood with mouth agape. Harris meanwhile struggled to make an impact in her first years in the White House, but performed strongly on the campaign trail on key issues such as abortion. In recent weeks, the Biden campaign has reportedly been quietly carrying out a head-to-head survey of voters measuring how the former California prosecutor matched up against convicted felon Trump. Biden took office in January 2021 pledging to heal the «soul of America» after four turbulent years under Trump and the shock of the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault by his supporters. Overcoming a reputation for verbal flubs, Obama's former vice president gave strong backing to Ukraine's battle against Russia's 2022 invasion, pushed through a massive Covid recovery plan and historic green industry subsidies. But he faced criticism over the catastrophic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, high inflation, and his support for Israel's war in Gaza -- while concerns over his age only mounted. © Agence France-Presse

The Pacific Disaster Centre in the USA has sent its adviser for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief initiatives, Steve Recca, to visit the headquarters of the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) on Friday to take stock of the damages caused by the December 7 explosion at the Providence Industrial Estate. Recca, accompanied by the U.S. Charge d'Affaires for Seychelles, Adham Loufti, also met with the secretary general of the RCSS, Marie-May Esparon, to discuss disaster risk management and relief activities in Seychelles. Following the meeting, Esparon told reporters that this is a continuation of a discussion with the United States Embassy regarding the needs of the Red Cross and highlighted the importance of getting the insight of experts in this field. «They have come to discuss which areas we can collaborate on regarding disaster management because he is a specialist in this field. Of course, everyone here wants to know how we can reduce the impact of disasters, she said. Esparon described the meeting as fruitful and the discussion included what the RCSS is doing especially compared to other small island states in the Caribbean, that are facing similar challenges. »These discussions will continue in the future and hopefully down the line we can also sign an agreement for further collaboration,« she added. The preparedness during disasters was also another component discussed and Esparon emphasised the importance of having contingencies and plans in place before an incident happens and this includes climate change. »Over the years we have noticed that the people of Seychelles are reacting better in situations of disaster. They know what to do, they attempt to help themselves instead of waiting for government agencies, which is ideal in these kinds of situations. This shows that whatever is being done to educate the people is working. It is never a disadvantage to continually develop and build capacity regarding disaster,« she said.  Loufti emphasised the importance of partnerships between the U.S. government, the Seychelles' government and organisations like the Red Cross to improve disaster response capabilities. »We think that these kinds of partnerships will strengthen the capacity of Seychelles to respond to disasters in the future. And we want to make sure that the partnership that we have, not just with the Red Cross, but with the government of the people of Seychelles, continues to grow so that we can respond better together,« he said. Recca commended the RCSS on the work being done despite the state of its headquarters. He said that this highlights the RCSS' strong commitment to disaster relief efforts in Seychelles. »It was obviously a very difficult situation following the explosion on December 7, but it is clear the Red Cross is still operating in amazing capacity, even given limited resources and the structural damage here. Just discussing with the secretary general, the work that's being done on a regular basis, really, truly a tremendous activity,« he added. Recca said, »Out of the Pacific Disaster Centre, which works around the world and the national governments and the national societies and Red Cross that I work with, this is perhaps the most aggressive in trying to do more for the citizens of the Seychelles, that I have seen anywhere." 

Preparations for the Paris Olympics went up a gear on Saturday as security teams scoured the banks of the Seine ahead of Friday's opening ceremony and top International Olympic Committee officials met in the French capital. Police with sniffer dogs were seen checking the six-kilometre (four-mile) route along the Seine for the ceremony in which up to 7,000 athletes will sail on nearly a hundred barges and river boats watched by 300,000 spectators. The stakes are high for the waterborne parade -- the first time the opening ceremony of a Summer Games will take place outside a stadium. French police will be bolstered by colleagues from several countries, including Spain, Britain and Qatar. Early on Saturday, a rehearsal for the ceremony was held on the river but security barriers and police screened it from the eyes of residents and media to keep the contents secret. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said that although he had not seen the full plan for the opening ceremony, the show will «blow your socks off». «I have a good idea, but not a full idea of what is in it. You can imagine it is going to be pretty amazing for the Olympic Games, first time outside the stadium,» Adams said at a news conference. The preparations for the ceremony have caused extensive disruption to residents of central Paris, who must have a pass with a special QR code to cross the Seine. «We've had far fewer customers than usual for the last two weeks. There aren't many tourists and lots of Parisians have left town. All our local clientele has gone,» said Behi Samadian, 69, in a boutique in Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Organisers say 8.8 million tickets have already been sold, beating the record from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and that figure will rise because tickets are still on sale for some of the 45 sports. - 'I'm going to win' - American sprinter Noah Lyles, one of the athletes expected to light up the Olympics, blazed to victory in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday in 9.81 seconds, the fastest he has ever run the distance. Lyles said he was confident of taking a 100m-200m sprint double in Paris: «I'm going to win, it's what I always do. I'm getting faster every week.» The IOC's top brass, led by President Thomas Bach, met on Saturday to prepare for a larger gathering of all of the movement's members on Tuesday and Wednesday. There had been fears that the awarding of the 2030 Winter Olympics to the French Alps -- they are the only candidates -- could be delayed by a row over the French government's reluctance to give funding guarantees while the country is in political paralysis following inconclusive snap elections. IOC spokesman Adams sought to allay those fears, saying: «It will be on the agenda on Wednesday.» He admitted though that the political situation in France «makes it a bit more complicated». Russia will be the big absentee from the Paris Games, with just 15 Russians and 17 Belarusians accredited to compete as neutrals as most sports have turned their backs on the Russians in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The IOC said on Saturday it was resigned to the Paris Games being targeted by disinformation attacks following recent incidents blamed on Russia. Adams said he believed a campaign against the Paris Olympics was already under way. «Clearly there is a campaign of some sort going on,» he said. «It's not the first or last time that the IOC will be targeted with misinformation. It's getting more and more sophisticated.» Adams was responding to a question concerning a feature-length fake documentary that emerged in 2023 titled «Olympics has Fallen» which used AI-generated audio to impersonate Hollywood star Tom Cruise. The film, falsely purporting to be a Netflix documentary, was apparently designed to erode global support for the Olympics. © Agence France-Presse

Seychellois Penda Choppy, a recent PhD graduate from the University of Malta, received the Outstanding Thesis Award for her work in the humanities and social sciences category. Her thesis entitled «Creativity, Creolisation and Identity in Seychellois Creole Folktales,» delves into the intriguing world of Seychellois folklore, uncovering its rich history and its potential to reveal crucial insights into Seychellois culture and identity. «There were over 200 theses successfully submitted for examination between 2022 and 2023. After selection, there was a tie between mine, which was in the Humanities and Social Sciences category and another by Dr Ing Bugeja, in the Sciences category. So, the Doctoral School declared both theses the most outstanding in their respective categories,» Choppy told SNA. Her research examines how Seychellois folktales represent the diverse diasporas that shaped the island nation's population.  Drawing upon the work of Robin Cohen and Olivia Sheringham, the thesis explores three key concepts - diaspora, Creolisation, and social identity.  She argues that these elements, in a specific order, are fundamental phases of identity formation within plantation Creole societies like Seychelles. « Diaspora, Creolisation and Social Identity, in that order, are chronological phases of identity formation in plantation Creole societies like Seychelles and that in the particular case of Seychelles, its corpus of folktales is representative of these phases,» added Choppy. Using a database of Seychellois folktales coded in Nvivo, a research tool, Choppy's analysis revealed valuable insights.   «By tracing the origins of the stories and the likely periods that they were transferred to Seychelles, it has been possible to identify the different diasporas that formed the early population of the archipelago,» she added.  Choppy also used the Nvivo software to analyse the impact of slavery on the Seychellois psyche, uncovering attempts to create a new and more positive identity in the post-independence period. The research also highlights the role played by powerful structures, including the Catholic Church, in shaping Seychellois concepts of identity and culture. Choppy believes that her thesis, currently available online in the University of Malta's thesis repository, will significantly contribute to scholarly research on Seychellois folklore, culture, and identity.   «This award will greatly increase my visibility and credibility as a researcher, especially in the capacity of a literary scholar and cultural expert,» she added. Choppy said her thesis has already had a profound impact on her career and the award, along with the recognition garnered by her work, has resulted in an offer to publish her research as a book. «Already the thesis, which is featured in the University of Malta's thesis repository online, has attracted significant attention from experts in the field which will have some positive outcomes such as future publications and inclusion in international and local initiatives. For example, I already have an offer from a very reputable publishing house in Germany, Kreolische Bibliothek, to publish my thesis as a book,» she told SNA.   Beyond the academic realm,  Choppy's research marks a significant milestone, being the first time that all Seychellois folktales have been collected and documented in a digitised form and made available in one location.   She said this will make these important stories readily accessible, both to scholars and to the Seychellois community and the information about the folktales has been classified according to the international folktale classification index, Aarne/Thompson/Uther (ATU), making this vital resource accessible not only locally but also to global researchers. Choppy's research shows how folklore can be used to illuminate the complexities of history, culture, and identity meant to contribute to a deeper understanding of Seychellois heritage. It will encourage further exploration of the unique storytelling traditions that have shaped the islands.

A group of 18 young Seychellois male footballers, between the ages of 15 to 16, will travel to Marseille, France, on Sunday to train and play alongside top French teams, including Olympique Marseille. This is part of FIFA's Talent Development Scheme to help member associations reach their potential by ensuring that every talent can be detected and developed. Speaking to this SNA earlier this week, the technical director of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF), Osama Haroun, explained that in this camp, the young players will undertake high level training enabling them to improve their skills. It will also showcase their talents and could even lead to chances of being signed by professional clubs. «The young players will have 27 training sessions and six friendly matches over 36 days, meaning it will be very intense,» said Haroun, and added that each player has been evaluated and will have training catered especially to them. The players in the group were born between 2009/2010, which was the criteria set by FIFA. Haroun explained that over 30 players were considered for selection and only the very best from each position were selected to attend the camp. «They are players with very good quality, but due to budget constraints, we were only able to select 18 players, where they were tested on control, speed, ball control and what we call a motivational test, to ensure they can handle the intense training they will do in France,» he added. Arsenal FC legend, Arsene Wenger, is the head of the Talent Development Programme. The operational cycle has been designed to provide member associations with resources in talent development and high performance in the form of consultancy services over the period 2023-2026, custom-made. Since April 2023, member associations can apply every year to participate in the programme. The main mission of the FIFA Talent Development Programme is to invest in academies. The goal is that by 2026, each member association will have at least one academy or centre of excellence. It will also be used to support national teams, talent identification, high-level coaches and structured competitions.

Planes were gradually taking off again Saturday after global airlines, banks and media were thrown into turmoil by one of the biggest IT crashes in recent years, caused by an update to an antivirus program. Passenger crowds had swelled at airports on Friday as dozens of flights were cancelled after an update to a program operating on Microsoft Windows crashed systems worldwide. By Saturday, officials said the situation had returned virtually to normal in airports across Germany and France, as Paris prepared to welcome millions for the Olympic Games starting on Friday. Multiple US airlines and airports across Asia said they had resumed operations, with check-in services restored in Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand, and mostly back to normal in India, Indonesia and at Singapore's Changi Airport as of Saturday afternoon. «There are no long queues at the airports as we experienced yesterday,» Airports of Thailand president Keerati Kitmanawat told reporters. - CrowdStrike apologises - Microsoft said the issue began at 1900 GMT on Thursday, affecting Windows users running the CrowdStrike Falcon cybersecurity software. In a Saturday blog post, CrowdStrike said it had released an update on Thursday night that caused a system crash and the infamous «blue screen of death» fatal error message. CrowdStrike said it had rolled out a fix for the problem and the company's boss, George Kurtz, told US news channel CNBC he wanted to «personally apologise to every organisation, every group and every person who has been impacted». The company also said it could take a few days for a full return to normal. US President Joe Biden's team was talking to CrowdStrike and those affected by the glitch «and is standing by to provide assistance as needed», the White House said in a statement. «Our understanding is that flight operations have resumed across the country, although some congestion remains,» a senior US administration official said. Reports from the Netherlands and Britain suggested health services might have been affected by the disruption, meaning the full impact might not yet be known. Media companies were also hit, with Britain's Sky News saying the glitch had ended its Friday morning news broadcasts, and Australia's ABC similarly reporting major difficulties. Australian, British and German authorities warned of an increase in scam and phishing attempts following the outage, including people offering to help reboot computers and asking for personal information or credit card details. Banks in Kenya and Ukraine reported issues with their digital services, while some mobile phone carriers were disrupted and customer services in a number of companies went down. «The scale of this outage is unprecedented, and will no doubt go down in history,» said Junade Ali of Britain's Institution of Engineering and Technology, adding that the last incident approaching the same scale was in 2017. - Flight chaos - While some airports halted all flights, in others airline staff resorted to manual check-ins for passengers, leading to long lines and frustrated travellers. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially ordered all flights grounded «regardless of destination», though airlines later said they were re-establishing their services and working through the backlog. India's largest airline Indigo said operations had been «resolved», in a statement posted on X. «We are diligently working to resume normal operations, and we expect this process to extend into the weekend,» the carrier said Saturday. Low-cost carrier AirAsia said it was still trying to get back online and had been «working around the clock towards recovering its departure control systems». It recommended passengers arrive early at airports and be ready for «manual check-in» at airline counters. Chinese state media said Beijing's airports had not been affected. - 'Common cause' - Companies were left patching up their systems and trying to assess the damage, even as officials tried to tamp down panic by ruling out foul play. According to CrowdStrike's Saturday blog, the issue was «not the result of or related to a cyberattack». CrowdStrike boss Kurtz said in a statement his teams were «fully mobilised» to help affected customers and «a fix has been deployed». But Oli Buckley, a professor at Britain's Loughborough University, was one of many experts who questioned the ease of rolling out a proper fix. «While experienced users can implement the workaround, expecting millions to do so is impractical,» he said. Other experts said the incident should prompt a widespread reconsideration of how reliant societies are on a handful of tech companies for such an array of services. «We need to be aware that such software can be a common cause of failure for multiple systems at the same time,» said John McDermid, a professor at York University in Britain. He said infrastructure should be designed «to be resilient against such common cause problems». © Agence France-Presse

The Seychelles' beach soccer national team hopes to pull off a shock result against Mozambique on Saturday when it takes on one of Africa's strongest sides at the local Beach Soccer Arena. The team has been training intensively in recent weeks as it prepares to seek a qualification spot in the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations 2024 (AFCON) and head coach Herald Kowlessur said that the team is looking for a win. «We have played against Mozambique before and the results were not good, but we are hoping that this is not the case again and we want to come out and play to get a win,» said Kowlessur. The head coach is asking supporters to come and help  the players in an attempt to get a victory. The match will take place at 6 p.m. at the Beach Soccer Arena in the central district of Roche Caiman. The second leg will take place in Mozambique a week later. The team is currently in a training camp with full time preparations and the coach says everything is going well and the players are in good form ahead of Saturday's game. Earlier this week, the team was briefed by a referee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and coach Kowlessur explained that this was to ensure the players stay updated with the ever-changing rules of the game. «We brought the referee to share his experience and let the players know what they can expect from the referees in this match,» said Kowlessur. Seychelles will be captained by Mike Balette, who shared that the team is a mix of young and experienced players and feels they have enough about them to get a good result. «We are taking this match seriously, especially as we are playing in front of our fans and we have prepared well and will be looking for a good match,» said Balette. Stephen Lajoie, who is part of the team, said they are ready to show what they are capable of. «We want all supporters to come and give us support, where when we see our people cheering us on, it will give us the determination to do well,» he added. The winners of each edition of the Beach Soccer AFCON, launched in 2006, qualify for the African nations in the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has already qualified as it will host the next tournament in 2025. Senegal is the most successful nation in this competition and in the World Cup qualifications. The Western African country has won seven titles, including the latest one in 2022, and qualified with nine out of 11 attempts. Nigeria follows closely with six qualifications. Seychelles competed in the qualifiers for the tournament in 2022 in Mozambique and lost 11-4 on aggregate to Madagascar. The 2024 edition of the tournament will take place in Egypt.

The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaption Trust (SeyCCAT) held a workshop with key organisations that have contributed to the Oceans 5-funded project «Enabling Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan» (SMSP) to showcase their accomplishments. The project involved implementation partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Energy, the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), Save Our Seas Foundation's D'Arros Research Centre, Green Islands Foundation (GIF), and the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF). The SMSP is an initiative approved in October 2020 focused on planning for and managing the sustainable and long-term use and health of Seychelles' ocean. It covers the 1.4 million square kilometres of country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)  and is expected to support the island nation's Blue Economy. It also includes the demarcation of more than 410,000 square kilometres which amounts to 30 percent of Seychelles' ocean area, as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). There are 13 MPAs divided into several zones, with the model protected being Zone 1 - High Biodiversity Protection Areas where almost no extractive human activities are allowed. The SeyCCAT's grants manager, Liam Weber, said that Ocean5, funded by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, targets the gaps that exist in the SMSP. Using Denis Island, which is owned by the Seychellois Mason family, as an example, he said that through the GIF, it developed and managed a plan for the sustainable use around the island. Denis Island falls under Zone 2 of the SMSP along with five others, the Amirantes group to Fortune Bank, the Cosmoledo as Astove atolls, the Farquhar group, and Desroches and Poivre Atolls.    The general manager of Green Island Foundation (GIF), a not-for-profit organisation, Wilna Accouche, showed the Denis Island Sustainable Use Area management plan. The Denis Island Sustainable Use Area is approximately 29 square kilometres and encompasses a distance of 2 km long around the island up to the high-water mark. The area is rich in marine biodiversity with perhaps one of the most important green turtle populations in inner Seychelles and there are also fishing activities conducted within this zone. Accouche explained in her presentation that among the challenges is how to find continuous funding to keep the initiative sustainable on Denis Island. The Ocean 5 projects, which started in June 2021 and will end August 2024, has a budget of $900,000. Weber said, «The project supports missing capacity areas and gaps in knowledge of things we didn't understand yet, which will benefit Seychelles for a long time.» Among other benefits from the Ocean 5 are the environmental monitoring regimes and protocols carried out in chosen areas every month.

Two first-time Olympians will carry the Seychelles flag at the upcoming 33rd Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Paris, France, from July 26  to August 11. Swimmer Khema Elizabeth and sprinter Dylan Sicobo were given the honour of being the flag bearers for Seychelles at the sending-off ceremony for the island nation's delegation. Only Elizabeth was present as Sicobo is already in France so is swimmer Simon Bachmann, the other Seychellois athlete at the Games, and the only one among the three who had participated in an Olympic Games. Bachmann was part of the five-man team for Seychelles for the Tokyo Olympics.    The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, presented Elizabeth with the Seychelles' flag during the ceremony, and in his address he urged athletes to make the most of this experience. «I want the athletes to know that we will be following the performance in Paris and when you return, having rubbed shoulders with some of the best in the world, it will definitely enrich your development,» he said. Ramkalawan also stressed  the importance of togetherness in sports and shared his disappointment at the many in-fighting issues in local sports. «Once and for all, let us not look to compete among ourselves in a federation, but instead look to compete against our opponents,» he added. As for Elizabeth, she said, «It is a great honour for me to be the flag bearer of Seychelles, especially being a small island and it gives great pleasure to be able to hold our flag high.» The ceremony was attended by members of the 10-person Seychelles delegation for the Games. This year's Seychelles' team of three athletes is the smallest group the island nation, in the western Indian Ocean, has ever sent to the Olympic Games. Elizabeth will compete in the 50m freestyle event on Saturday, August 3, while Sicobo will be running in the 100m race on the same day. The two athletes join the list of athletes who carried the Seychelles' flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The flag bearers at the last Games in Tokyo, Japan in 2021, were former Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year, sailor Rodney Govinden and swimmer Felicity Passon. Both athletes booked their spots for the Games. The other athlete that will represent Seychelles at the games is another swimmer, Simon Bachmann, who will compete in the 200m individual medley event on August 1.  This will be the 11th time Seychelles competes at the Olympic Games. The first time was at the Moscow Games in 1980.   The Minister for Family Affairs, Youth and Sports, Marie-Celine Zialor, was also present at the sending-off ceremony. She reiterated what an honour it is to represent the country at such events and asked the athletes to do their best to represent the country positively. «We will continue to support sports in Seychelles and I remain confident and I will continue to talk about Seychelles winning that first Olympic medal, until the day that we do win it,» she added. Seychelles' delegation includes the chairperson of the Seychelles Aquatics Federation, Murielle Morgan, swimming coach Barnsley Albert, Wilfred Adrienne for the Seychelles Athletics Federation and the medical officer, Julie Sham-laye. The head of the delegation is Jeffrey Lagrenade and also part of the delegation will be the vice president and secretary general of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (SOCGA), Michel Bau and Alain Alcindor, respectively.

The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, has sent a message of congratulation to Paul Kagame on his re-election as the President of Rwanda, the Foreign Affairs Department said on Friday. In his message, Ramkalawan, said, «I am pleased to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your re-election as President of the Republic of Rwanda. Your re-election to this high office is a testament to your leadership acumen and reflects the continued trust that the people of Rwanda have in your vision for a prosperous and united  Rwanda. I am confident that under your stewardship, Rwanda will make further progress in achieving sustainable development, social justice, and economic growth.» He said that Seychelles and Rwanda share strong and dynamic relations, which were further solidified during Kagame's visit to the island nation in June 2023. «I remain committed to our common objectives of further strengthening our bilateral ties and working together to intensify our cooperation for the mutual benefit of both our countries and peoples. I am very much looking forward to continuing our collaborative efforts at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels,» added Ramkalawan. Rwanda's National Electoral Commission said on Thursday that Kagame has been re-elected with 99.18 percent of the vote. The 66-year-old has been the President of Rwanda since April 2000.    

The Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaption Trust (SeyCCAT) held a workshop with key organisations that have contributed to the Oceans 5-funded project «Enabling Seychelles Marine Spatial Plan» (SMSP) to showcase their accomplishments. The project involved implementation partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Energy, the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS), Save Our Seas Foundation's D'Arros Research Centre, Green Islands Foundation (GIF), and the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF). The SMSP is an initiative approved in October 2020 focused on planning for and managing the sustainable and long-term use and health of Seychelles' ocean. It covers the 1.4 million square kilometres of country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)  and is expected to support the island nation's Blue Economy. It also includes the demarcation of more than 410,000 square kilometres which amounts to 30 percent of Seychelles' ocean area, as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). There are 13 MPAs divided into several zones, with the model protected being Zone 1 - High Biodiversity Protection Areas where almost no extractive human activities are allowed. The SeyCCAT's grants manager, Liam Weber, said that Ocean5, funded by the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, targets the gaps that exist in the SMSP. Using Denis Island, which is owned by the Seychellois Mason family, as an example, he said that through the GIF, it developed and managed a plan for the sustainable use around the island. Denis Island falls under Zone 2 of the SMSP along with five others, the Amirantes group to Fortune Bank, the Cosmoledo as Astove atolls, the Farquhar group, and Desroches and Poivre Atolls.    The general manager of Green Island Foundation (GIF), a not-for-profit organisation, Wilna Accouche, showed the Denis Island Sustainable Use Area management plan. The Denis Island Sustainable Use Area is approximately 29 square kilometres and encompasses a distance of 2 km long around the island up to the high-water mark. The area is rich in marine biodiversity with perhaps one of the most important green turtle populations in inner Seychelles and there are also fishing activities conducted within this zone. Accouche explained in her presentation that among the challenges is how to find continuous funding to keep the initiative sustainable on Denis Island. The Ocean 5 projects, which started in June 2021 and will end August 2024, has a budget of $900,000. Weber said, «The project supports missing capacity areas and gaps in knowledge of things we didn't understand yet, which will benefit Seychelles for a long time.» Among other benefits from the Ocean 5 are the environmental monitoring regimes and protocols carried out in chosen areas every month.

A lucky couple from Seychelles will soon head to Paris for the 2024 Olympics after winning a lottery held by the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) Seychelles. Nimhan and Bernice Senaratne were presented with the plane tickets in a small ceremony at the bank's headquarters in Victoria on Thursday. The prize includes a four-day all-inclusive package and attending the closing ceremony of the games, along with the diving and beach volleyball events. «I was very surprised when I received the call and wasn't sure that it wasn't a prank call, but when I heard the excitement of the MCB team behind the call, I knew it was real,» said Nimhan Senaratne, after receiving his prize. «I've been a loyal customer of MCB for over a decade now and we of course as a couple we are very pleased with this opportunity and I think it is going to be a dream getaway for us,» he added. Aside from experiencing the Games, the couple will also attend a special St Germain Food Tour. The package will also include transportation in Paris, meals and drinks, excursions and an allowance of SCR10,000 ($727) for both. Nimhan said his wife and him are not really sports fans but nonetheless, they are looking forward to the opportunity, which will be like a second honeymoon for them This opportunity came through the «Fly to the Olympique Paris 2024» promotional campaign held by MCB from March 15 to May 31. This was done through the usage of MCB Debit or Credit cards for Point of Sales (POS), or online payments. The winners were decided by a draw.   It is not the first time that MCB has held the 'Cashless Initiative' and since 2021, various clients of the bank have benefitted from it. In 2021 five lucky winners won SCR5,000 ($365) for a year and in 2022 one lucky winner was flown to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to attend the third place playoff game. In 2023, one customer won SCR100,000 ($7,276) with 20 other clients each winning SCR10,000 ($727). 

Thousands of French security forces locked down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of central Paris on Thursday ahead of the hugely complex Olympics opening ceremony next week. The opening parade on July 26 that will see athletes sail down the river Seine led to the closure of central water-side residential districts to most vehicles from 5:00 am (0300 GMT) on Thursday. Traffic on surrounding boulevards was noticeably lighter than usual as many drivers stayed away, but locals and tourists found themselves blocked at checkpoints, particularly when trying to cross the river. «It's a real pain,» cyclist Frank Groner, 52, told AFP after being turned away by police outside the La Samaritaine department store. «I read everything online and thought I'd understood. You can't cross anywhere!» With the opening ceremony just eight days away, Paris is transforming itself as it prepares to welcome nearly nine million Olympics ticketholders. Organisers are putting the finishing touches to the temporary sports stadiums at iconic locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides or the Place de la Concorde. Advertising boards, new artwork and Olympics bunting are going up, while the creation of Olympic VIP traffic lanes this week are the latest change to the capital's gridlocked streets. «The Olympics have brought us nothing but misery,» taxi driver Rabah Ouanes, 53, complained on Thursday, saying traffic had been dreadful because of all the construction work. In the run up to the Games, tourist numbers are much lower-than-usual and many Paris residents have headed off on holiday to avoid the disruption. «Our clients are down by 50 percent,» said Renaud, a senior waiter at the famed Deux Magots cafe in Saint-German-des-Pres, which is inside the new security perimeter set up on Thursday. «Normally we have people queuing out the door,» he told AFP, gesturing towards the numerous empty seats on the outdoor terrace. - 'Super excited' - Elsewhere on Thursday, the first athletes arrived at the newly built Olympic Village in the Saint-Ouen northern suburb of the capital which urban planners are hoping to regenerate. Comprising 40 different low-rise housing blocs, the complex has been built as a showcase of innovative construction techniques using low-carbon concrete, water recycling and reclaimed building materials. It was also intended to be free of air-conditioning, but Olympic delegations have ordered around 2,500 portable cooling units for their athletes out of fear of high temperatures. «We are super excited to check how it's looking,» Australian hockey player Stephanie Kershaw told AFP as she waited to enter the village. «We can't wait to get started.» Members of the Argentinian, Brazilian and Kenyan delegations could be seen pushing luggage trolleys into the complex, while British and US athletes are also expected on Thursday. At full capacity, the village will host 14,500 people including 9,000 athletes. - Unprecedented ceremony - Securing the Paris Games remains the biggest priority for French authorities, with Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin insisting Wednesday that there was «no credible threat» against them at this stage. The opening ceremony has been giving senior police officers cold sweats ever since it was announced in 2021 because of the difficulty of protecting such a large, densely packed urban area. Around 6,000-7,000 athletes are set to sail down the Seine on nearly a hundred barges and river boats. It will be the first time a Summer Olympics has opened outside the main athletics stadium, with up to 500,000 people set to watch in person from stands, on the river banks and from the overlooking apartments. The two-tiered security perimeter installed on Thursday has restricted most vehicles from central areas. Anyone wanting to enter the highest-security «grey zone» along both banks of the Seine, such as residents or tourists with hotel reservations in the area, needs a security pass in the form of a QR code. River barriers blocking access to the Seine were installed and functioning on Thursday, while a vast no-fly zone will be put in place above the capital on the evening of the ceremony. The installation of tens of thousands of metal security barriers all along the route of the parade and around the temporary venues has also outraged some Parisians. Martine Dubois, a 74-year-old living in Saint-Germain-des-Pres, said the Olympics were «a real inconvenience». The metro stop she uses for work was one of 10 closed for security reasons on Thursday and the barriers «make you feel like you're living in a prison,» she told AFP. © Agence France-Presse

The Israeli parliament voted Thursday to oppose a Palestinian state as an «existential threat», a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told lawmakers the army had Hamas «by the throat». The vote, which drew swift criticism from the Palestinian leadership and the international community, is largely symbolic but laid down a marker ahead of a planned address by Netanyahu to the US Congress next Wednesday. The veteran hawk has shown little interest in efforts by the US administration to broker a truce and hostage release deal for Gaza, saying that «absolute victory» over Hamas is within reach and vowing to ramp up the military pressure. But on a visit to Israeli troops in Gaza Thursday, he rejected criticism from hostages' families that his policies are obstructing an agreement to bring their loved ones home, insisting that pressure on Hamas was «not delaying the deal, it is advancing it». On the ground in Gaza, the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry reported 54 deaths in 24 hours as Israel kept up its heavy bombardment of recent days. The resolution passed by Israeli lawmakers in the early hours said a Palestinian state on land occupied by the Israeli army would «perpetuate the Israel-Palestinian conflict and destabilise the region». It said «promoting» a Palestinian state «would only encourage Hamas and its supporters» after its October 7 attack on Israel which triggered the war. The resolution passed by 68 votes to nine in the 120-member parliament. The Palestinian Authority accused Israel's hard-right ruling coalition of «plunging the region into an abyss». Neighbouring Jordan said the vote «constitutes a serious violation of international law and a challenge to the international community». France expressed «consternation», noting that the text was «in contradiction» with multiple UN Security Council resolutions. - 'Moral stain' - The establishment of a Palestinian state on lands occupied by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967 has been the cornerstone of the international community's efforts to resolve the conflict for decades. UN chief Antonio Guterres was «very disappointed» by the Israeli parliament's move. «You can't vote away the two-state solution,» his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Guterres has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war, saying Wednesday that «the humanitarian situation... is a moral stain on us all». All health facilities in southern Gaza have been pushed to «breaking point» by the influx of casualties, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. AFPTV images showed mourners at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central town of Deir el-Balah, where several white-shrouded corpses lay on the ground. One man cradled the covered body of a child. - 'By the throat' - During more than nine months of war, Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to eradicate Hamas as well as bring home all the hostages. On Wednesday, he told parliament: «We have got them by the throat.» Far-right members of his governing coalition, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, oppose a truce deal. On Thursday, Ben Gvir said Netanyahu must not make a «surrender» accord with Hamas. In another sign of tensions within the government over the handling of the war, Netanyahu overruled an order by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a longtime rival, to build a temporary field hospital in Israel to treat sick children from Gaza. The prime minister «does not approve the establishment of a hospital for Gazans within Israeli territory -- therefore, it will not be established,» his office said. The war began with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants also seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom are still in Gaza, including 42 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's military retaliation has killed at least 38,848 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry. - Polio virus detected - The war has destroyed much of Gaza's housing and other infrastructure, leaving almost all of the population displaced and short of food and drinking water. Pax, a Dutch activist group, said in a study released Thursday that «continuous bombing and Israel's fuel blockade have decimated» Gaza's outdated waste collection system, threatening water supplies and farm land. The health ministries in Israel and Gaza on Thursday reported that the polio virus had been detected in sewage samples from the war-stricken territory. The Israeli health ministry said poliovirus type 2 was detected in Gaza sewage samples tested in an Israeli laboratory, adding that the World Health Organization had made similar findings. Umm Nahed Abu Shar, 45, staying in a tent with her family in Deir el-Balah, has endured clouds of flies, the stench of sewage and constant illness. «We are not living,» she said. © Agence France-Presse