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  1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  2. <rss version="2.0">
  3. <channel>
  4. <title>Seychelles News Agency</title>
  5. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/</link>
  6. <description>Real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Seychelles news.</description>
  7. <language>en</language>
  8. <copyright>2024 Seychelles News Agency</copyright>
  9.  
  10.  
  11. <item>
  12. <title>Waste management: UN launches Challenge Fund for circular economy businesses in Seychelles</title>
  13. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20326/Waste+management+UN+launches+Challenge+Fund+for+circular+economy+businesses+in+Seychelles</link>
  14. <guid>20326</guid>
  15. <category>Business</category>
  16. <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:45:41 +0200</pubDate>
  17. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20326.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  18. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p">Entrepreneurs looking to join the value chain in waste management in Seychelles can now apply for a grant under the Challenge Fund, a financing programme developed by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund launched on Thursday.</p>
  19. <p class="p">During her address at the launching ceremony, the United Nations resident coordinator for Seychelles and Mauritius, Lisa Simrique Singh said, "The Challenge Fund aims to support businesses working towards diverting the volume of waste being landfilled by opting for reuse, recycle, or reduce wastage. By promoting these 3Rs, the Fund will help not only in creating new jobs for women, youth and disabled but also reduce the reliance of Seychelles on imports."</p>
  20. <p class="p">The Challenge Fund, which is worth $150,000, will be divided into five small grants of $5,000 and six large grants of $15,000 to $20,000. Applicants can find more information at <a href="http://www.mofbe.gov.sc/blue-economy"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="15">http://www.mofbe.gov.sc/blue-economy</span></span></a></p>
  21. <p class="p">The selection will include several components and criteria. Singh clarified that "the candidates whose projects are shortlisted for the Challenge Fund will receive training from UNECA and UNFPA during a boot camp to enable them to better their business pitch for the final round of the Challenge Fund, or to other potential financing partners."</p>
  22. <p class="p">This fund is part of a bigger project that aims to promote a circular economy for waste management in Seychelles.</p>
  23. <p class="p">In April 2022, a two-year project entitled "Contributing to establishing an enabling environment to promote sustainable Green and Blue Economy in Mauritius and Seychelles" was awarded by the UN Joint SDG Fund to advance the country's Green and Blue Economy agenda.</p>
  24. <p class="p">In Seychelles, the focus is on solid waste management in line with government priorities, which poses a significant challenge.</p>
  25. <table style="height: 64px;" width="625">
  26. <tbody>
  27. <tr>
  28. <td><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/photos_more/202403/path_12092.jpg" alt="" /></td>
  29. </tr>
  30. <tr>
  31. <td>The launching ceremony was held on Thursday. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: <a href="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/buy_prints#attribution" target="_blank">CC-BY</a> </td>
  32. </tr>
  33. </tbody>
  34. </table>
  35. <p class="p">The country generates an average amount of 80,000 tonnes of waste annually, with the primary landfill expected to reach full capacity by 2025. Faced with the problem of scarcity of land, the country will need to adopt a sustainable solid waste management system.</p>
  36. <p class="p">To address this problem the Fund will support the government to promote a circular economy to reduce the amount of waste flowing to the landfill along with a financing strategy and strengthen the partnership between the public and private sectors.</p>
  37. <p class="p">The project is being implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).</p>
  38. <p class="p">At the launch, a validation workshop also took place where many stakeholders from different sectors discussed the Seychelles Circular Economy Roadmap and Action Plan.</p>
  39. <p class="p">Singh described the Challenge Fund as a catalyst for innovation in this field, that it will help raise awareness about this concept of circularity to the people and the communities through the award of grants to medium and small enterprises.</p>
  40. <p class="p">"It is obvious that our current take-make-dispose approach to production and consumption is not sustainable. This inefficient approach is pushing our planet to the brink, driving the climate crisis, and depleting the resources we need to support more equitable and thriving communities in the future. Addressing these challenges will require a transformative shift to a circular economy - a system that puts sustainability at its core and where waste becomes input," he added.</p>
  41. <p class="p">"For instance, transitioning to the circular economy can help to reduce global CO2 emissions by more than 80 percent by 2060 and the annual volume of plastics flowing to the oceans by over 80 percent. In addition, the circular economy can be a driver of economic growth with the potential of creating 7 to 8 million new jobs worldwide. Ultimately, it would boost resilience, by lessening the dependence on strategic imports and enhance self-sufficiency," said Singh</p>
  42. <p class="p">Seychelles' Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Jean-Francois Ferrari, emphasised the importance of staying on track.</p>
  43. <p class="p">"As we gather here today, let us lose sight of our ultimate goal – to create a circular economy that fosters sustainability and inclusivity. Through the development of micro, small and medium enterprises, we aim to empower our communities and drive economic growth that leaves no one behind,"  he said.</p>]]></description>
  44. </item>
  45.  
  46. <item>
  47. <title>Seychelles introduces Educational Loan Scheme for university students, ends Part-Financing Scheme</title>
  48. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20322/Seychelles+introduces+Educational+Loan+Scheme+for+university+students%2C+ends+Part-Financing+Scheme</link>
  49. <guid>20322</guid>
  50. <category>General</category>
  51. <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:12:05 +0200</pubDate>
  52. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20322.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  53. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p">Students in Seychelles who want to pursue higher education but have not qualified for fully-funded scholarships for university studies can now do so through a student loan under the new Educational Loan Scheme.  </p>
  54. <p class="p">The statement was made in the National Assembly on Wednesday by the Minister for Education, Justin Valentin, who also announced that the government's Part-Financing Scheme has stopped with immediate effect.</p>
  55. <p class="p">The minister said that requests for university studies, including overseas ones by both students and employees, are continuously increasing.</p>
  56. <p class="p">"Given Seychelles' economic status as a high-income country, the number of scholarships we get from other countries or organisations has decreased. So the Ministry of Education has a significant challenge to better and more effectively use its scholarship budget. Because of the many demands, the government put in place an Educational Loan Scheme in operation since May 2023," said Valentin.</p>
  57. <p class="p">The student loan under the Educational Loan Scheme is not more than SCR 800,000 ($58,500) and is given to support a study in a field that is a priority for Seychelles and based on the interest rate of the respective banks, the government will subsidise 4 percent of the interest rate.</p>
  58. <p class="p">Valentin said "A student will start repaying the loan after having completed the study and has started earning a salary. The government is the guarantor for each student."</p>
  59. <p class="p">The Educational Loan Scheme is supported by five commercial banks as well as the Seychelles Credit Union, the Central Bank of Seychelles, and the Seychelles Bankers Association. The final decision for approval of the loan remains with the banks.</p>
  60. <p class="p">Aside from students who have not qualified for a fully-funded scholarship, the loan will also be available for a student who wishes to study in another university and not the one chosen by the Ministry of Education. The loan will help cover the difference in cost but will not exceed the SCR 800,000.</p>
  61. <p class="p">Valentin said the Part-Financing Scheme has stopped due to several issues and concerns.</p>
  62. <p class="p">"We saw during these past few years that the part-finance option has put a lot of financial pressure on parents. Certain parents did not honour their commitments and finally, the [government] system had to pay for the student to complete the study," he added.</p>
  63. <p class="p">Additionally, more students are expected to qualify for a fully- funded scholarship thanks to adjustments being made to the scholarship policy.</p>]]></description>
  64. </item>
  65.  
  66. <item>
  67. <title>Russia, Mali to strengthen counterterrorism efforts</title>
  68. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20320/Russia%2C+Mali+to+strengthen+counterterrorism+efforts</link>
  69. <guid>20320</guid>
  70. <category>General</category>
  71. <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:49:15 +0200</pubDate>
  72. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20320.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  73. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p1">Russia and Mali agreed to strengthen their cooperation over counterterrorism in a telephone call on Wednesday according to both parties, following the attack in Moscow that killed at least 137.</p>
  74. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the head of the Malian junta, Colonel Assimi Goita, and the President of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Nguesso, the Kremlin said in a statement.</span></p>
  75. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Putin and Goita "agreed to strengthen anti-terrorist cooperation", the Kremlin said.</span></p>
  76. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility on multiple occasions and published a graphic video of the gunmen carrying out the attack.</span></p>
  77. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Colonel Goita echoed the decision on social media: "We have agreed to cooperate more in the fight against terrorism".</span></p>
  78. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">France was forced to withdraw troops who had been fighting jihadist violence, from Mali in 2022 after coups in 2020 and 2021 saw relations nosedive. The regime moved towards a political and military partnership with Russia.</span></p>
  79. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Moscow had steadily gained influence through the dispatch of fighters from the Wagner mercenary group, which has unofficially served the Kremlin's aims in resource-rich Africa since the 2010s.</span></p>
  80. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Putin and Goita also discussed strengthening "cooperation in energy, agricultural and mining projects", the Kremlin reported.</span></p>
  81. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The Kremlin mentioned Russia's "free" delivery of wheat, fertiliser and fuel to Mali.</span></p>
  82. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Russia has also established itself as the main ally of the military regimes of Burkina Faso and Niger, who exited a wider Western African bloc in favour of a joint defence pact with Mali.</span></p>
  83. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">© Agence France-Presse</span></p>
  84. <p class="p3"> </p>]]></description>
  85. </item>
  86.  
  87. <item>
  88. <title>Haiti's future governing council vows to restore order</title>
  89. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20319/Haiti%27s+future+governing+council+vows+to+restore+order</link>
  90. <guid>20319</guid>
  91. <category>General</category>
  92. <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:41:14 +0200</pubDate>
  93. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20319.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  94. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p1">The governing council that aims to oversee a political transition in Haiti vowed Wednesday to restore "public and democratic order" in its first statement to the Caribbean nation wracked by a worsening security crisis.</p>
  95. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Impoverished Haiti, which has long grappled with spiraling violence, has been rocked by an uptick in clashes since late February when gangs launched a coordinated offensive and demanded Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign.</span></p>
  96. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"We are determined to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people, trapped for too long between bad governance, multi-faceted violence and disregard for their perspectives and needs," said the statement from the Presidential Council, which has yet to be officially installed.</span></p>
  97. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Signed by eight of the nine members of the council, it said that -- once in place -- the body will appoint a prime minister who will assist in forming a government to "put Haiti back on the road to democratic legitimacy, stability and dignity."</span></p>
  98. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The statement ended with a plea for unity, warning that Haiti is at a "crucial turning point."</span></p>
  99. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"Together, we will implement a clear plan of action aimed at restoring public and democratic order" by improving security and holding free elections, the statement said.</span></p>
  100. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"The Presidential Council is currently finalizing a document on its organization and mode of operation, including a transparent political agreement between the sectors involved in the process," it continued.</span></p>
  101. <p class="p4"><span class="s3">- <strong>Gang violence -</strong></span></p>
  102. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Henry, who has led Haiti since the 2021 assassination of president Jovenel Moise, promised more than two weeks ago to step down after a transitional council is stood up -- though reaching that stage has proved exceedingly difficult due to squabbles among party leaders.</span></p>
  103. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The presidential transition council -- to be composed of seven voting members and two non-voting members -- was first announced on March 11, after emergency meetings between Haitian leaders and several countries and organizations, including the Caribbean regional bloc CARICOM.</span></p>
  104. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">It is set to draw its members from Haitian political parties, the private sector and elsewhere, and is to name an interim prime minister and government to set the stage for fresh elections.</span></p>
  105. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">In the meantime, Haiti has faced an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with UNICEF warning that "countless children" could die due to malnutrition and a lack of health care.</span></p>
  106. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Nearly five million people -- almost half the country's population -- have been driven into "high levels of acute food insecurity" since a surge in gang-linked violence, according to a report published in March by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).</span></p>
  107. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">UNICEF chief Catherine Russell called Tuesday for a return of law and order to Haiti's streets in order to protect the nation's schools, hospitals and "humanitarian spaces."</span></p>
  108. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Kenya, which agreed to lead a long-awaited, UN-approved mission to Haiti to back its security forces as they grapple with the well-armed gangs, has put its plans on hold until the transitional council is in place.</span></p>
  109. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">© Agence France-Presse</span></p>]]></description>
  110. </item>
  111.  
  112. <item>
  113. <title>Almost one child in six is cyberbullied: WHO Europe</title>
  114. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20317/Almost+one+child+in+six+is+cyberbullied+WHO+Europe</link>
  115. <guid>20317</guid>
  116. <category>General</category>
  117. <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 17:16:43 +0200</pubDate>
  118. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20317.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  119. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p1">Some 16 percent of children aged 11 to 15 were cyberbullied in 2022, up from 13 percent four years ago, a WHO Europe report covering 44 countries said on Wednesday.</p>
  120. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"This report is a wake-up call for all of us to address bullying and violence, whenever and wherever it happens," WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said in a statement.</span></p>
  121. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Fifteen percent of boys and 16 percent of girls reported being cyberbullied at least once in recent months, according to the study, entitled "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children".</span></p>
  122. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The UN agency noted that the pandemic has changed the way adolescents behave towards each other.</span></p>
  123. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"Virtual forms of peer violence have become particularly relevant since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, when young people's worlds became increasingly virtual during times of lockdown," the report said.</span></p>
  124. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Other bullying has remained largely stable with just a slight increase.</span></p>
  125. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Eleven percent of boys and girls reported being bullied at school at least two or three times a month in the past couple of months, compared to 10 percent four years ago.</span></p>
  126. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">- <strong>Six hours of screen time -</strong></span></p>
  127. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The highest levels of cyberbullying were experienced by boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova and Poland, while the lowest levels were reported in Spain, the WHO said without providing detailed data.</span></p>
  128. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"With young people spending up to six hours online every single day, even small changes in the rates of bullying and violence can have profound implications for the health and well-being of thousands," Kluge said.</span></p>
  129. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">One adolescent in eight admitted cyberbullying others, an increase of three percentage points from 2018, the report said.</span></p>
  130. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The number of adolescents who engaged in physical fighting meanwhile remained stable over the four-year period at 10 percent -- 14 percent for boys and six percent for girls.</span></p>
  131. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The study was based on data from 279,000 children and adolescents from 44 countries across Europe, Central Asia and Canada.</span></p>
  132. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">In most places, cyberbullying peaked when children were 11 years old for boys and 13 for girls.</span></p>
  133. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Parents' socioeconomic status made little difference in children's behaviour, the report found.</span></p>
  134. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Canada was however an exception, where less advantaged youths were more likely to experience bullying.</span></p>
  135. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">There, 27 percent of girls belonging to the 20 percent least affluent families said they had been subjected to bullying at school, compared to 21 percent of girls among the 20 percent most affluent families.</span></p>
  136. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Noting that the problem was widespread, the report called for greater efforts to improve awareness.</span></p>
  137. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"More investment in the monitoring of different forms of peer violence is needed," it said.</span></p>
  138. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"There is also an urgent need to educate young people, families and schools of the forms of cyberbullying and its implications, while regulating social media platforms to limit exposures to cyberbullying," it concluded.</span></p>
  139. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">- <strong>Six hours of screen time -</strong></span></p>
  140. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The highest levels of cyberbullying were experienced by boys in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova and Poland, while the lowest levels were reported in Spain, the WHO said without providing detailed data.</span></p>
  141. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"With young people spending up to six hours online every single day, even small changes in the rates of bullying and violence can have profound implications for the health and well-being of thousands," Kluge said.</span></p>
  142. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">One adolescent in eight admitted cyberbullying others, an increase of three percentage points from 2018, the report said.</span></p>
  143. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The number of adolescents who engaged in physical fighting meanwhile remained stable over the four-year period at 10 percent -- 14 percent for boys and six percent for girls.</span></p>
  144. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">The study was based on data from 279,000 children and adolescents from 44 countries across Europe, Central Asia and Canada.</span></p>
  145. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">In most places, cyberbullying peaked when children were 11 years old for boys and 13 for girls.</span></p>
  146. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Parents' socioeconomic status made little difference in children's behaviour, the report found.</span></p>
  147. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Canada was however an exception, where less advantaged youths were more likely to experience bullying.</span></p>
  148. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">There, 27 percent of girls belonging to the 20 percent least affluent families said they had been subjected to bullying at school, compared to 21 percent of girls among the 20 percent most affluent families.</span></p>
  149. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">Noting that the problem was widespread, the report called for greater efforts to improve awareness.</span></p>
  150. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"More investment in the monitoring of different forms of peer violence is needed," it said.</span></p>
  151. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">"There is also an urgent need to educate young people, families and schools of the forms of cyberbullying and its implications, while regulating social media platforms to limit exposures to cyberbullying," it concluded.</span></p>
  152. <p class="p3"><span class="s1">© Agence France-Presse</span></p>]]></description>
  153. </item>
  154.  
  155. <item>
  156. <title>Seychelles unveils groundbreaking judicial manual for fight against money laundering and terrorist financing </title>
  157. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20316/Seychelles+unveils+groundbreaking+judicial+manual+for+fight+againstmoneylaundering+andterrorist+financing</link>
  158. <guid>20316</guid>
  159. <category>General</category>
  160. <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:03:24 +0200</pubDate>
  161. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20316.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  162. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p">In a significant stride towards bolstering its efforts against money laundering, Seychelles has unveiled a groundbreaking judicial manual crafted in collaboration with the European Union (EU) Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CTF).</p>
  163. <p class="p">Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held at the Eden Bleu Hotel on Tuesday, Chief Justice Rony Govinden described the manual as "a pivotal moment" in the nation's ongoing fight against financial crimes.</p>
  164. <p class="p">He said that this manual is a product of over a year of collaboration between Seychelles and the EU and that this was led by a team comprising of the director of legal affairs of the Judiciary, Lionel Garrick, and assisted by senior legal researcher Olya Hetsman.</p>
  165. <p class="p">Govinden said that they also worked with the EU Experts and teams from the Attorney General's Office, Financial Investigation Unit (FIU), and the Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) of the Seychelles Police.</p>
  166. <p class="p">This was "to ensure that this document not only met our local needs but also became a comprehensive, workable tool that could serve as an effective guide throughout the prosecution chain, from investigation to trial," he added.</p>
  167. <p class="p">The manual, tailored specifically for Seychelles, is the first of its kind in the country. It comes as a response to the enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act in 2020, which highlighted the necessity for comprehensive guidelines to navigate complex investigations and prosecute such crimes effectively.</p>
  168. <p class="p">The manual aims to provide practical support in financial investigations related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing cases.</p>
  169. <p class="p">The director of the FIU, Richard Rampal, emphasised the impact that such a manual will have on the way that Seychelles combats money laundering and said, "This is a significant development for the island, and I am privileged to contribute to this crucial initiative."</p>
  170. <p class="p">Developed with the expertise of EU Global Facility experts from France, the Netherlands, Moldova, and Poland, the manual seeks to ensure seamless coordination among all stakeholders involved in combating financial crimes.</p>
  171. <p class="p">David Hotte, EU Global Facility Team Leader spoke about the importance of equipping Seychelles with tangible tools to combat financial crimes effectively. </p>]]></description>
  172. </item>
  173.  
  174. <item>
  175. <title>WHO regional director discusses fight against substance abuse with Seychelles' President </title>
  176. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20314/WHO+regional+director+discusses+fight+against+substance+abuse+with+Seychelles%27+President</link>
  177. <guid>20314</guid>
  178. <category>Health</category>
  179. <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:19:24 +0200</pubDate>
  180. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20314.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  181. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p">Seychelles and the World Health Organisation (WHO) will explore areas the organisation can help in prevention and communication in the fight against substance abuse.</p>
  182. <p class="p">The statement was made by the regional director of the WHO, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, after a meeting with Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House on Tuesday.</p>
  183. <p class="p">Dr Moeti is in Seychelles attending a meeting of ministers of health from small island developing states (SIDS) of the WHO in the African region. The meeting is focused on SIDS' progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), preparedness for the next pandemic, and climate and health.</p>
  184. <p class="p">"We talked about universal health coverage, so generally how to ensure that everybody in the population whatever may be his or her economic status has access to the health services that they need and very importantly and have information on interventions that can help them and to preserve good health," Moeti told reporters.</p>
  185. <p class="p">She said that in her discussion with the head of state, it was revealed that the government is interested in addressing certain health issues such as obesity but also the issue of substance abuse.</p>
  186. <p class="p">"Alcohol is a big issue for the government and it is working on that and that is an issue that is a growing problem in other countries of the region," said Moeti.</p>
  187. <p class="p">She also had the chance to take part in a walk held on the Beau Vallon beach in the north of Mahe, the main island, on Sunday as part of the ongoing anti-obesity campaign of the Ministry of Health.</p>
  188. <p class="p">Discussions also touched on climate change, and Moeti said, "It is very important to a country like Seychelles the direct interest of the government to make sure that the country gets engaged in global discussions and hopefully benefits from some of the experience and some of the financing that could be available for climate change."</p>
  189. <p class="p">The subject of mental health emerging in the world was also discussed and the regional director said, "I think COVID-19 made that worse and made us even more aware about it."</p>
  190. <p class="p">Pandemic preparedness was also raised and Moetis explained that "We are just emerging from a major pandemic of COVID-19 and the whole world is talking about being better prepared together for the next pandemic."</p>
  191. <p class="p">She added that the WHO is coordinating the conversation among the member states about how "they will agree, how they will pool resources where possible and how they will have the same procedures when having an outbreak which could become a pandemic."</p>
  192. <p class="p">This will also include sharing information, and available commodities and acting as one global community to prevent the spread of diseases including those that can turn into a pandemic.</p>
  193. <p class="p">Moeti commended Seychelles for having a ministry that deals with family, as it encompasses the work of many other ministries and it also deals with families, which is where children are raised.</p>
  194. <p class="p">She reaffirmed WHO's support to a country that is doing quite a lot itself in improving the health of its population and said that the organisation was quite satisfied with the way Seychelles uses the  WHO funding it has received.</p>]]></description>
  195. </item>
  196.  
  197. <item>
  198. <title>Seychelles' President sends condolence message to Russia after terrorist attack in Moscow</title>
  199. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20313/Seychelles%27+President+sends+condolence+message+to+Russia+after+terrorist+attack+in+Moscow</link>
  200. <guid>20313</guid>
  201. <category>Diplomacy</category>
  202. <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:14:24 +0200</pubDate>
  203. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20313.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  204. <description><![CDATA[<p>The President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, has sent a message of condolence to Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, following the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall last week, the Foreign Affairs Department said on Tuesday.</p>
  205. <p>In his message, Ramkalawan said, "I am deeply saddened to learn of the devastating terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall, claiming numerous innocent lives. At this moment of profound tragedy, I extend our deepest condolences to you, your government, and the Russian people during these trying times. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims."</p>
  206. <p>The President added, "We condemn in the strongest terms such acts of violence. In the face of such adversity, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to peace, unity, and the preservation of human life and dignity. May the resilience and solidarity of the Russian people serve as a beacon of hope in these difficult times."</p>
  207. <p>Around 137 people were killed last Friday when four gunmen stormed Crocus City Hall in the north of Moscow and fired on an estimated 6,000 people who were attending a rock concert.</p>
  208. <p>According to the BBC news service, the four gunmen have been arrested and charged with acts of terrorism.</p>
  209. <p> </p>]]></description>
  210. </item>
  211.  
  212. <item>
  213. <title>Russia blames Kyiv, West over Moscow gun attack</title>
  214. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20312/Russia+blames+Kyiv%2C+West+over+Moscow+gun+attack</link>
  215. <guid>20312</guid>
  216. <category>General</category>
  217. <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:58:53 +0200</pubDate>
  218. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20312.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  219. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p1">Russia on Tuesday sought to shift blame for the Moscow concert hall attack onto Ukraine and its Western backers, despite the Islamic State group claiming responsibility for the massacre of at least 139 people.</p>
  220. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The Kremlin's security services have been scrambling to explain how gunmen on Friday managed to carry out the worst attack in Russia in over two decades.</span></p>
  221. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that "radical Islamists" conducted the bloody assault, but suggested they were linked to Ukraine, two years into the Kremlin's offensive on the country.</span></p>
  222. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The head of Russia's FSB security agency Alexander Bortnikov said Tuesday that while those who had "ordered" the attack had not been identified, the assailants were heading to Ukraine and would have been "greeted as heroes".</span></p>
  223. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"We believe the action was prepared both by the radical Islamists themselves and, of course, facilitated by Western special services, and Ukraine's special services themselves have a direct connection to this," Bortnikov was cited as saying by Russian news agencies.</span></p>
  224. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Ukraine has fiercely rejected any accusations from Moscow that it was tied to the assault, with a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky saying the Kremlin was looking to cover up the "incompetence" of its intelligence agencies.</span></p>
  225. <p class="p1"><span class="s1">- <strong>Belarus undermines Kremlin narrative -</strong></span></p>
  226. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Russia's closest international ally, Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko, appeared to undermine the Kremlin's main narrative -- saying that the attackers tried to enter his country first before heading to Ukraine.</span></p>
  227. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"There was no way they could enter Belarus. They saw that. That's why they turned away and went to the section of the Ukrainian-Russian border," he said.</span></p>
  228. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The Kremlin has expressed confidence in the country's powerful security agencies, despite questions swirling over how they failed to thwart the massacre after public and private warnings from the United States.</span></p>
  229. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Islamic State jihadists have said several times since Friday that they were responsible, and IS-affiliated media channels have published graphic videos of the gunmen inside the venue.</span></p>
  230. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said Paris had information that the jihadists were responsible and warned Russia against exploiting the attack to blame Ukraine.</span></p>
  231. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The concert hall massacre was a major blow for Putin just over a week after he claimed a new term after one-sided elections the Kremlin billed as an endorsement of his military operation against Ukraine.</span></p>
  232. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Putin on Monday said for the first time that "radical Islamists" were behind last week's attack, but sought to tie it to Kyiv.</span></p>
  233. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Without providing any evidence, Putin connected the attack at Crocus City Hall to a series of incursions into Russian territory by pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups, and said they were all part of efforts to "sow panic in our society".</span></p>
  234. <p class="p1"><span class="s1">- <strong>Eighth suspect remanded -</strong></span></p>
  235. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">A court in Moscow meanwhile on Tuesday remanded an eighth suspect in custody over the attack at the Moscow concert hall.</span></p>
  236. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Moscow earlier announced it had detained 11 people in connection with the attack, which saw camouflaged gunmen storm into Crocus City Hall, open fire on concert-goers and set the building ablaze.</span></p>
  237. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The court's press service said the latest suspect to be remanded was a man originally from the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan.</span></p>
  238. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Officials said he was ordered to be held in detention until at least May 22, without detailing the exact accusations against him.</span></p>
  239. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Four men charged on Sunday with carrying out the attack are citizens of Tajikistan, also in mainly Muslim Central Asia.</span></p>
  240. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Three more suspects -- reportedly from the same family and including at least one Russian citizen -- were charged on terror-related offences on Monday.</span></p>
  241. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">A Turkish official said two of the Tajik suspects had travelled "freely between Russia and Turkey" ahead of the attack.</span></p>
  242. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The two had both spent time in Turkey shortly before the attack and entered Russia together on the same flight from Istanbul, the official said.</span></p>
  243. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">All of those held in custody have been charged with terrorism and face up to life in prison.</span></p>
  244. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The Kremlin has so far pushed back at suggestions the death penalty will be re-introduced after the attack.</span></p>
  245. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">© Agence France-Presse</span></p>]]></description>
  246. </item>
  247.  
  248. <item>
  249. <title>Seychelles' President invited to first Korea-Africa Summit in June</title>
  250. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20310/Seychelles%27+President+invited+to+first+Korea-Africa+Summit+in+June</link>
  251. <guid>20310</guid>
  252. <category>Diplomacy</category>
  253. <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:10:53 +0200</pubDate>
  254. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20310.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  255. <description><![CDATA[<p>Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan has been invited to participate in the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit in June by the newly accredited ambassador on behalf of the South Korean government.</p>
  256. <p>Kang Jung presented his credentials to the President on Tuesday at State House.</p>
  257. <p>The Korea-Africa Summt, which will take place from June 4 to 5 in Seoul, is a forum to address a number of issues of interest to both parties such as economic, political and social cooperation, as well as initiatives to strengthen multilateral relations between Korea and African countries.</p>
  258. <p>The new ambassador told reporters that this summit is a chance to "elevate the Korea-Seychelles bilateral relations."</p>
  259. <p>He also spoke about other areas of cooperation between the two side to build closer relations through people to people exchange and institutional cooperation.</p>
  260. <p>Jung added that this "would be either tourists, businessmen or government officials - we agreed that we need to bring more people to Seychelles."</p>
  261. <p>Other areas the two countries plan to further explore avenues of cooperation are the Blue Economy, fisheries, tourism and digitalisation, of which Jung said that this is an area where Korea is excelling.</p>
  262. <p>Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, established diplomatic relations with South Korea on January 29, 1995.</p>
  263. <p>Kang also paid a courtesy visit to Vice President Ahmed Afif at State House this morning.</p>
  264. <p>The new ambassador will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.</p>
  265. <p> </p>]]></description>
  266. </item>
  267.  
  268. <item>
  269. <title>Seychelles' Central Bank relaxes monetary policy from 2 percent to 1.75</title>
  270. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20308/Seychelles%27+Central+Bank+relaxes+monetary+policy+from++percent+to+.</link>
  271. <guid>20308</guid>
  272. <category>Finance</category>
  273. <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:37:21 +0200</pubDate>
  274. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20308.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  275. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p">The board of the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS) has decided to relax the monetary policy rate for the next three months from 2 percent to 1.75 percent, said a top official on Tuesday.</p>
  276. <p class="p">The first deputy governor of the CBS, Brian Commettant, told reporters that this decision was made by the board during discussions on Monday and the other interests that the Central Bank decides, when it changes the monetary policy, will also change.</p>
  277. <p class="p">Commettant said that the decision taken on the monetary policy considered external development and Seychelles' economy.</p>
  278. <p class="p">"Generally, domestic economic activities continue to recover but the level of uncertainty remains high especially related to international development that has a direct impact on Seychelles," he added.   </p>
  279. <p class="p">Commettant said that based on its evaluation, CBS thinks that the reduction in the interest rate of the monetary policy will help to support economic activities in the coming months.  </p>
  280. <p class="p">In his presentation, he also shared the various external economic outlooks, sharing that globally, there is a moderation in monetary policies, with a reduction in the United States and European Union zone's inflation rates expected in the coming months.</p>
  281. <p class="p">Additonally, CBS said in a press statement that the high-interest rate environment, coupled with the decline in international commodity prices and improvements in supply chains, has resulted in a moderation in inflationary pressures in most regions.</p>
  282. <p class="p">"In January 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised its global growth projections for the year from 2.9 per cent to 3.1 percent. Despite this improved outlook, the tight monetary conditions that prevail globally are anticipated to dampen economic activity in the short term," said CBS.</p>
  283. <p class="p">On the domestic front, as at March 17, CBS said Seychelles welcomed a total of 81,421 tourists, an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period in 2023.</p>
  284. <p class="p">"This growth primarily stemmed from a rise in visitor arrivals from the traditional Western European markets, particularly Germany, Italy and Russia. Estimated tourism earnings expanded by 22 percent in the first two months of the year compared to the same period last year. Despite the positive performance of the tourism sector, the subdued economic outlook in key tourism source markets as well as the aforementioned global challenges may adversely impact the domestic economy," said CBS.</p>
  285. <p class="p">The CBS said that the escalation of the attacks in the Red Sea, which could impact transit times and shipping costs, remains a global concern.</p>
  286. <p class="p">According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the annual inflation rate now stands at -0.25 percent, compared to 1.13 percent in February 2023.</p>
  287. <p class="p">Meanwhile, as of March 22, Seychelles gross international reserves stand at $737 million.</p>]]></description>
  288. </item>
  289.  
  290. <item>
  291. <title>Seychellois long-distance runner to compete in the World Athletics Cross Country Championship in Serbia</title>
  292. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20307/Seychellois+long-distance+runner+to+compete+in+the+World+Athletics+Cross+Country+Championship+in+Serbia</link>
  293. <guid>20307</guid>
  294. <category>Sport</category>
  295. <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 10:21:00 +0200</pubDate>
  296. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20307.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  297. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p">Seychellois long-distance runner, Yannick Magnan, will leave Seychelles on Wednesday for Belgrade, Serbia, to compete in the World Athletics Cross Country Championship.</p>
  298. <p class="p">This will be Magnan's second international outing over a month after finishing 34th at the 6th African Cross Country Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia on February 25.</p>
  299. <p class="p">In the senior 10km race, Magnan clocked 36 minutes and 08.64 seconds to finish 34th out of 36 contestants.</p>
  300. <p class="p">Magnan has participated in several international competitions including the junior championship in March 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.</p>
  301. <p class="p">In Serbia, the 27-year-old will be competing against the world's best in cross-country running, and the competition will have the participation of 485 athletes from 51 teams around the globe.</p>
  302. <p class="p">In the senior individual races, there are entries for 245 athletes, comprising 138 men and 107 women.</p>
  303. <p class="p">The U20 races will see 187 athletes participate, with a gender distribution of 95 men and 92 women. Additionally, 12 countries are slated to compete in the mixed relay event.</p>
  304. <p class="p">At the previous World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, Kenya emerged as the leading nation on the medal tally, securing six gold medals.</p>
  305. <p class="p">The championship was originally set to take place in Croatia, but was re-scheduled after the World Athletics Council decided that preparations at Medulin and Pula in Croatia to host the event on February 10 had "not advanced sufficiently".</p>
  306. <p class="p">This will be the second World Athletics Series to be hosted by Belgrade in the space of two years following the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships.</p>
  307. <p class="p">The 2024 World Cross Country Championships will be held in the Park of Friendship, next to the Danube River in the heart of Belgrade, which was the venue for the 2013 European Championships.</p>]]></description>
  308. </item>
  309.  
  310. <item>
  311. <title>Senegal presidency winner says he is 'break' from establishment</title>
  312. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20306/Senegal+presidency+winner+says+he+is+%27break%27+from+establishment</link>
  313. <guid>20306</guid>
  314. <category>Africa</category>
  315. <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:14:53 +0200</pubDate>
  316. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20306.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  317. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p1">Anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye said Monday that Senegal's people had chosen to "break" with the current political system as he was set to become the youngest president in the country's history.</p>
  318. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Faye's main rival from the governing coalition, Amadou Ba, has already conceded the race, triggering a political earthquake in the West African nation.</span></p>
  319. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">It marked a stunning victory for the 44-year-old Faye, who was only freed from prison 10 days before Sunday's election, whose results are not yet official.</span></p>
  320. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">He described himself in his first public address since Ba conceded as "the choice of a break" from the establishment.</span></p>
  321. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">One of his main priorities as president will be "national reconciliation" following three years of unrest and a political crisis, Faye said.</span></p>
  322. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Faye also vowed to "fight corruption at every level" rebuild institutions and tackle the cost of living crisis.</span></p>
  323. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">xIt is the first time in 12 presidential votes held under universal suffrage since Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 that an opposition candidate has won in the first round of voting.</span></p>
  324. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Ba, 62, recognised Faye's win and rang him to offer his congratulations.</span></p>
  325. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Outgoing president Macky Sall, who did not stand after wins in 2012 and 2019, also congratulated him, hailing "a victory for Senegalese democracy".</span></p>
  326. <p class="p4"><span class="s3">- '<strong>Hungry for change' -</strong></span></p>
  327. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Faye has promised left-wing pan-Africanism and to renegotiate gas and oil contracts, with Senegal due to start production on recently discovered oil and gas reserves later this year.</span></p>
  328. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The opposition candidate has never held a nationally elected position before.</span></p>
  329. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The United States echoed Sall in hailing a triumph of democracy in Senegal.</span></p>
  330. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"The commitment of the Senegalese people to the democratic process is part of the foundation of our deep friendship and strong bilateral ties," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.</span></p>
  331. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Faye on his victory, and said he looked forward to working with him.</span></p>
  332. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">El Hadji Mamadou Mbaye, a political science lecturer and researcher at the University of Saint-Louis, told AFP that "people are hungry for change when you see what is happening in this country in terms of corruption, non-respect of the law".</span></p>
  333. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The person who most embodied the longed-for change was Ousmane Sonko, Mbaye added, referring to the firebrand opposition figurehead who was barred from running in the election but endorsed Faye as his replacement.</span></p>
  334. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Faye had appeared clearly ahead of former prime minister Ba, according to provisional results from individual polling stations published by local media and on social networks.</span></p>
  335. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Official results are expected before the end of the week. An absolute majority was required for a first-round win.</span></p>
  336. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Newspaper front pages had already congratulated Faye. "Happy Birthday Mister President," said the Walf Quotidien, referring to Monday being Faye's birthday.</span></p>
  337. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Hundreds of jubilant Faye supporters had gathered at his campaign headquarters in the capital Dakar late on Sunday.</span></p>
  338. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"It's a total revolution. Everything is going to change. Behaviourally, socially and financially, everything is going to change," Coumba Diallo, a singer known as Queen Biz, enthused.</span></p>
  339. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">At least 10 of the 17 presidential candidates earlier on Monday had congratulated Faye in light of provisional results published by the media.</span></p>
  340. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">No major incidents were reported during the vote despite three years of bouts of unrest and a last-minute postponement of the election.</span></p>
  341. <p class="p4"><span class="s3">- <strong>Deep change -</strong></span></p>
  342. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Faye was released from prison on March 14 under a rapidly passed amnesty law, together with Sonko.</span></p>
  343. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">He was jailed last year on charges linked to a standoff between Sonko and the state. Sonko was barred from running in the presidential race due to a defamation conviction.</span></p>
  344. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The anti-establishment candidate has pledged to restore national "sovereignty" and distribute wealth more equitably.</span></p>
  345. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">He has also promised to renegotiate mining, gas and oil contracts signed with foreign companies.</span></p>
  346. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"I want to say to the international community, to our bilateral and multilateral partners, that Senegal... will remain... a sure and reliable ally to all partners who commit to a virtuous, respectful and mutually productive cooperation with us," Faye said on Monday.</span></p>
  347. <p class="p4"><span class="s3">- <strong>Postponement</strong> -</span></p>
  348. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Senegal was originally due to vote on February 25, but an 11th-hour postponement by Sall triggered the worst political crisis in decades and violence that left four dead.</span></p>
  349. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Around 7.3 million of Senegal's 18 million population were eligible to vote.</span></p>
  350. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">With the country viewed as a beacon of democracy in coup-hit West Africa, where Russia is strengthening its influence, the election was closely followed.</span></p>
  351. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">It is Senegal's third democratic handover from one elected leader to another since independence.</span></p>
  352. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Hundreds of observers from civil society, the African Union, the ECOWAS regional group and the European Union were on hand.</span></p>
  353. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">After weeks of confusion, Senegal's top constitutional body overruled Sall's attempt to delay the vote until December and forced him to reset the date to March 24, resulting in a rushed campaign that clashed with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.</span></p>
  354. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Sall's legacy includes mass arrests, persistent poverty, 20 percent unemployment and thousands of migrants setting off on the perilous voyage to Europe each year.</span></p>
  355. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Several episodes of unrest triggered partly by the stand-off between Sonko and the state have seen dozens killed and hundreds arrested since 2021.</span></p>
  356. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">© Agence France-Presse</span></p>]]></description>
  357. </item>
  358.  
  359. <item>
  360. <title>No let-up in Gaza war despite UN ceasefire resolution</title>
  361. <link>http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/20305/No+let-up+in+Gaza+war+despite+UN+ceasefire+resolution</link>
  362. <guid>20305</guid>
  363. <category>General</category>
  364. <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 07:07:31 +0200</pubDate>
  365. <enclosure url="http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/media/images/2024-03/photo_verybig_20305.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
  366. <description><![CDATA[<p class="p1">Israeli troops battled Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, with no sign of a let-up in the war despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an "immediate ceasefire".</p>
  367. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The resolution was adopted Monday after Israel's closest ally the United States abstained.</span></p>
  368. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">It demands an "immediate ceasefire" for the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan, leading to a "lasting" truce.</span></p>
  369. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">It also demands that Hamas and other militants free hostages they took during the unprecedented October 7 attacks on Israel, though it does not directly link the release to a truce.</span></p>
  370. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">After the vote, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres led calls for the resolution to be implemented.</span></p>
  371. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">"Failure would be unforgivable," he wrote on social media platform X.</span></p>
  372. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Israel reacted furiously to the US abstention, as it allowed the resolution to go through with all the other 14 Security Council members voting yes.</span></p>
  373. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The resolution is the first since the Gaza war erupted to demand an immediate halt in the fighting.</span></p>
  374. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Washington insisted that its abstention, which followed numerous vetoes, did not mark a shift in policy, although it has taken an increasingly tougher line with Israel in recent weeks.</span></p>
  375. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The war began with Hamas's October 7 attacks, which resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.</span></p>
  376. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes around 130 are still held in Gaza, including 33 presumed dead.</span></p>
  377. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Vowing to destroy Hamas and free the captives, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground invasion of the coastal territory.</span></p>
  378. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip on Monday put the Palestinian death toll at 32,333, most of them women and children.</span></p>
  379. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Hamas welcomed the Security Council resolution and reaffirmed its readiness to negotiate the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.</span></p>
  380. <p class="p4"><span class="s3">- '<strong>Clear retreat' -</strong></span></p>
  381. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Israel has consistently defended its campaign despite mounting international criticism of its conduct.</span></p>
  382. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Enraged by the United States' abstention, it cancelled the visit of a delegation to Washington.</span></p>
  383. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">It said that the abstention "hurts" both its war effort and attempts to release hostages, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office described it as "a clear retreat from the consistent position of the US".</span></p>
  384. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">On the ground, the fighting raged on unabated.</span></p>
  385. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">In southern Gaza's Rafah, a key flashpoint in the war, witnesses said Israeli jets pummelled the city on Tuesday.</span></p>
  386. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">According to the Israeli army, anti-rocket sirens sounded in Israeli areas around the Gaza Strip.</span></p>
  387. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">While Rafah, like other areas around the Gaza Strip, has come under frequent Israeli strikes, it is the only part of the territory where Israel has not sent in ground troops.</span></p>
  388. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">It borders Egypt, and 1.5 million Palestinians fleeing the rest of the devastated territory have sought refuge there.</span></p>
  389. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Netanyahu's determination to launch a ground operation in Rafah, the city on Gaza's southern border where most of the territory's population is sheltering, has become a key point of contention between Israel and the United States.</span></p>
  390. <p class="p4"><span class="s3">- <strong>'Obscene distortion' -</strong></span></p>
  391. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">In Rafah, Palestinians welcomed the UN vote and called for the United States to use its influence on Israel to secure a ceasefire.</span></p>
  392. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Bilal Awad, 63, said Washington must "stand against an attack on Rafah, and support the return of the displaced to their cities".</span></p>
  393. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Ihab al-Assar, 60, expressed hope that "Israel will comply" with the Security Council.</span></p>
  394. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Israel has labelled its operations "precise operational activities" and said it has taken care to avoid harm to civilians, but aid agencies have voiced alarm about non-combatants caught up in the fighting.</span></p>
  395. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Elsewhere in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said Monday it was battling militants around two hospitals and reported killing about 20 fighters around Al-Amal over the previous day in close-quarters combat and air strikes.</span></p>
  396. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Palestinians living near Al-Shifa, the territory's main hospital, have reported corpses in the streets, constant bombardment and the rounding up of men who are stripped to their underwear and questioned.</span></p>
  397. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Israel's military said it had detained a total of about 500 militants "affiliated with" Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another militant group, during its operation at Al-Shifa.</span></p>
  398. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">The fighting came as an independent UN-appointed expert, Francesca Albanese, said there were "reasonable grounds to believe" Israel's actions in Gaza had met the threshold for "acts of genocide".</span></p>
  399. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">Israel rejected Albanese's report, due to be presented to the UN's Human Rights Council on Tuesday, as an "obscene inversion of reality".</span></p>
  400. <p class="p2"><span class="s2">© Agence France-Presse</span></p>]]></description>
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