President Patrick Herminie has formally taken on the role of patron of the Seychelles Football Federation. As patron, he becomes the federation’s senior ceremonial representative, bringing the standing and influence of the presidency to its work. He is expected to champion the growth of football nationwide, supporting stronger grassroots systems, clearer youth pathways, improved coaching standards and better sporting facilities through active engagement with policymakers and partners.

Economist Impact highlights Nature Seychelles’ coral restoration

Nature Seychelles has taken centre stage in Back to Blue: Indian Ocean – On the Frontline, a project led by Economist Impact in partnership with The Nippon Foundation. The programme brings together research, data analysis and on-the-ground reporting to spotlight practical, proven responses to the ocean’s most urgent threats, reframing the narrative around action and measurable progress.

Tourism Seychelles launches interactive Travel Talk format in Prague

Tourism Seychelles reinforced engagement with the Czech travel trade through an interactive Travel Talk event in Prague, replacing formal presentations with open dialogue and practical exchange. Led by Lena Hoareau and Ingride Asante, the session highlighted Seychelles’ diverse accommodation options, island-hopping experiences and evolving traveller trends.

President Herminie receives Canada’s High Commissioner-designate

President Dr Patrick Herminie, on Tuesday, February 24, received the Letters of Credence of Canada’s High Commissioner-designate , Emily Burns, at State House, marking a new phase in bilateral relations as the two countries near 50 years of diplomatic ties. Discussions covered heritage cooperation, including progress on Venn’s Town, a potential air services agreement, and closer collaboration on climate action. The President also conveyed condolences following Canada’s recent tragic school shooting and reaffirmed Seychelles’ solidarity.

Club Med expands in Seychelles, linking tourism growth with community impact

Club Med is strengthening its presence i n Seychelles by combining its premium all-inclusive concept with local employment, community sourcing and global marketing. Following discussions with President Patrick Herminie, the brand reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable tourism growth that enhances visitor experiences while creating economic opportunities for Seychellois. Tourism development, economic opportunity and community partnership were central to talks at State House between President Herminie and Club Med Deputy CEO Gino Andreetta, highlighting how the group continues to shape Seychelles’ tourism landscape through premium hospitality, cultural integration and local empowerment.

At present, each ranger is responsible for around 25,000 hectares, far above the ministry’s target ratio of one ranger per 2,500 hectares.

Rangers are civil servants tasked with patrolling protected areas, preventing illegal logging and encroachment, and enforcing conservation laws. 

Between January and October 2025, the ministry said it prosecuted 34 suspects in 21 illegal logging cases, raided 13 illegal mining sites and foiled 36 attempts to smuggle protected wildlife.

Wildlife poaching problem

Indonesia is widely described as a major hub for wildlife trafficking, reflecting its vast biodiversity. It is considered one of the world’s richest countries in terms of species diversity, making it both a source and a target for organised wildlife crime.

Interpol estimates the global illegal wildlife trade is worth about $20 billion , with Indonesia acting as a source, transit point and destination. Poachers operate on islands including Java, Sumatra and Borneo, capturing species ranging from birds and otters to critically endangered rhinos. 

Many of these animals are sold domestically, while others are trafficked across Asia through organised networks.

Recent court rulings have highlighted the scale of the threat. For instance, in 2025, Indonesian judges handed down prison terms of up to 12 years in a case linked to the killing of between 18 and 26 Javan rhinos over five years.

Despite the scale of the problem, the recruitment drive has drawn criticism. Some wildlife and environment researchers have argued that increasing ranger numbers alone will not address deeper structural issues.

Research indicates that 55.3 million hectares of forest and other land have been allocated to legal concessions, where oversight can be weak. Analysts say much forest degradation occurs within these licensed areas, raising questions over whether enforcement efforts will also target large-scale business operations.

At the centre of the phenomenon is a long-running community conservation effort. Volunteers gather daily at a designated feeding ground on the outskirts of the village, where grain is laid out to protect the birds from disturbance and village traffic.

The tradition dates back to the 1970s, when a small feeding practice gradually attracted more cranes each year. As participation grew, so did the numbers, with more than 30,000 birds recorded by 2014. Arriving as early as August and staying until March, the cranes have turned Khichan into one of India’s most unusual and well-known seasonal wildlife havens.

The site has also become a focal point for conservation concerns, as visitors and local rangers warn that the penguin population has declined sharply in recent years. According to estimates cited by park authorities, breeding pairs on the island have fallen to around 6,000, down from more than 60,000 in the late 2000s, underscoring growing worries about the long-term survival of the species.

Footage filmed by Viory shows local tour guide and environmental advocate Bonifacio Jomio snorkelling through the reef, searching for the starfish before injecting them with coconut vinegar. The method, carried out by hand, is part of a local effort to slow the damage and protect what remains of the coral ecosystem.

Jomio said the reefs were in far better condition before Typhoon Odette, internationally known as Rai. Since then, he explained, growing corals have increasingly been eaten and killed, prompting him to act in order to support both the marine environment and the coastal community that depends on it.

He described the use of coconut vinegar as a crucial alternative to chemical solutions. According to Jomio, the organic substance is fatal to the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish but does not harm other marine species, allowing interventions to be carried out without further damaging the reef.

Restoring coral reefs is essential for sustaining fish populations, Jomio said, as healthy corals provide breeding grounds for many species. He noted that the recovery process is slow, making protection efforts all the more urgent.

Despite the challenges, Jomio said his work is driven by a desire to preserve the reefs for future generations. His actions have attracted attention online, drawing praise from viewers while also prompting calls for wider institutional support to address the scale of the crisis.

According to the Government of Puebla, emergency relief efforts have been launched to support families whose homes were destroyed or damaged. Governor Alejandro Armenta toured flood-hit communities alongside army personnel and residents as part of the state’s coordinated response.

“There was a landslide and all the water entered our house. It affected everything. We practically lost all our furniture, our bed, everything,” said Alma Yasmin Cruz, a resident of the community of Patoltecoya, Puebla.

According to Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN), the heavy rainfall has been largely driven by the two tropical systems over the Pacific Ocean, which continue to dump torrential rain across wide areas of the country.

Authorities have deployed civil protection brigades, medical teams, and cleanup crews to vulnerable regions, while setting up temporary shelters for evacuees displaced by flooding and landslides. Relief operations also include the distribution of food, blankets, and hygiene kits, as well as technical inspections to assess the structural damage to homes and public infrastructure .

Governor Armenta urged residents to remain alert and to follow official safety guidance, expressing gratitude for the solidarity shown by citizens and volunteer groups.

Meanwhile, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced via her X (formerly Twitter) account that she will convene a virtual meeting of the National Civil Protection Council on Saturday, October 11, to review the federal government’s ongoing response and coordinate further aid to affected communities.

The award celebrates the excellence of Cuba’s National Biodiversity Programme through 2030, developed under the supervision of Cuba’s Ministry of Science , Technology and Environment (CITMA). Its strategy emphasises science-based measures, citizen participation, and concrete conservation actions.

Cuba was among 26 countries selected worldwide for their outstanding commitment to biodiversity. These nations were honoured for their national biodiversity strategies (EPANB), which align with global goals under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

In Cuba’s case, the EPANB is integrated with the country’s broader environmental and climate policy framework — including the Tarea Vida (Life Task) programme and Cuba’s National Development Plan to 2030 — reflecting a systemic approach to conservation and sustainability.

The awarding body, the International Reverse the Red Coalition, is led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and partners. It honours countries that craft and implement biodiversity action plans with scientific rigour, transparency, stakeholder inclusion and alignment with global standards.

According to Atlas and Boots , the USA, Chile, Norway, Nepal, and New Zealand stand out as spots for hiking globally.

Here is a closer look at what makes these countries the go-to destinations.

United States

Top Trails: Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail

Highlights: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Redwood forests, National Park system

The USA is a top hiking destination that offers immense terrain variety from the deserts of the Grand Canyon to alpine meadows in Yosemite and ancient giants in the Redwood forests. The famous “Triple Crown” trails: Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide, are bucket-list long-distance hikes that draw in adventurers worldwide.

Chile

Top Trails: Aconcagua, The W Trek, Mirador las Torres

Highlights: Patagonian wilderness, Great Glaciers, The Andes Mountains

Chile is one of the best countries for hiking due to its epic terrain, growing trail infrastructure, and eco-conscious tourism policies. With national parks like Cerro Castillo and Queulat, plus improved accessibility and remote lodges, Chile delivers unforgettable trekking experiences for adventurers seeking both challenge and natural beauty.

Norway

Top Trails: Besseggen Ridge, Gaustatoppen Summit, Trollheimen Triangle

Highlights: Arctic Circle access, dramatic fjords, Sami culture, wilderness camping

Atlas & Boots rank Norway as one of Europe’s premier hiking nations thanks to its “right to roam” laws, excellent trail infrastructure maintained by the Norwegian Trekking Association, and extraordinary natural beauty from fjords to glaciers. Trails like Besseggen Ridge offer panoramic views unmatched in Scandinavia .

Nepal

Top Trails: Everest Base Camp, Great Himalaya Trail, Annapurna Circuit Trek

Highlights: High-altitude mountaineering, Himalayan panoramas, Sherpa culture

Nepal is home to the world’s most legendary trekking routes, like the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit, treks offering both challenge and cultural immersion. According to Atlas & Boots, Nepal’s dramatic landscapes and iconic elevation gains make it unmissable for adventure travellers seeking authentic mountain experiences.

New Zealand

Top Trails: Queen Charlotte Track, Te Araroa Trail, Milford Track

Highlights: Southern Alps, kauri forests, bubbling geysers

New Zealand’s Great Walks, especially the iconic 53 km Milford Track, are regularly cited as among the world’s best single- and multi-day hikes. These trails wind through pristine fjords, ancient forests, and geothermal valleys. Department of Conservation maintains well-marked paths and facilities, making them accessible for a wide range of fitness levels

The visual guide by World Visualized spotlights some of the best solo travel destinations for 2025, ranging from beach towns to jungles and historic cities.

Here’s a closer look at the featured hotspots and what makes each one ideal for solo explorers.

Albania

Best for: Hidden gems and Mediterranean vibes

This Balkan treasure offers crystal-clear coastlines, affordable escapes, and a warm, laid-back atmosphere. From the Albanian Alps to the sunny Riviera, it’s perfect for solo travellers seeking both relaxation and adventure without breaking the bank.

Costa Rica

Best for: Nature lovers and adventurers

Costa Rica is a haven for the Pura Vida lifestyle . With lush jungles, surfing hotspots, and biodiversity galore, it’s a magnet for eco-conscious solo explorers. The welcoming vibe and organised tourism infrastructure make it easy to navigate alone.

Germany

Best for: History buffs and urban explorers

Germany’s efficient transport, walkable cities, and rich heritage offer solo travellers both structure and depth. From Berlin’s creative culture to Rothenburg’s medieval charm, it’s ideal for self-guided cultural exploration.

Vietnam

Best for: Foodies and budget travellers

Vietnam continues to draw travellers seeking flavorful and meaningful journeys with its vibrant street food, striking landscapes, and budget-friendly options. Cities like Hanoi and Hoi An offer cultural immersion alongside modern comfort.

Iceland

Best for: Nature and safety

Few destinations offer the solitude and safety that Iceland does. Volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, and the Northern Lights make it a playground for nature lovers who want to be awed without feeling alone.

New Zealand

Best for: Outdoor thrill-seekers

Known for its epic road trips, mountain landscapes, and friendly locals, New Zealand is a solo traveller’s dream. The strong backpacking culture ensures that adventurers always find community along the way.

Using data from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and mobile phone base stations, Ohta confirmed that the islands, previously moving northeast together, had suddenly diverged, a phenomenon never seen before in the area.

Surprisingly, Ohta said the quake itself may not have been the direct cause of the shift. "Considering the magnitude and distance from the epicenter, it’s unlikely the quake alone triggered this movement," he explained.

He pointed instead to possible underground forces, such as magma or fluids seeping into the earth's crust, or a slow slip along a shallow fault on the continental plate.

While it's still unclear whether this crustal movement signals a larger quake to come, Ohta said he will analyze historical data to better understand the cause of the phenomenon, NHK World Japan reports.

The discovery comes after 12 years of research on endangered medicinal plants. The new hair treatment is made from the bark of the Mporojo tree, also called Albizia anthelmintica.

Local communities in the Ngorongoro District, including the Maasai, Hadzabe, Datoga, and Iraqw people , shared their knowledge to help the scientists.

"This is a significant development for people facing baldness, thinning hair, or breakage. Scientific testing has confirmed that Albizia anthelmintica possesses unique properties that promote hair regrowth and prevent hair loss," said Dr Julius Keyyu, Tawiri’s director of research.

The hair remedy has been officially registered under the name Composition for Hair Growth Stimulation or Hair Loss Prevention Using an Extract of Albizia anthelmintica.

It has also shown it can treat other health problems like intestinal worms, malaria, and leg pain using its roots.

Tawiri has given a license to a South Korean company , Winwik Enterprise Ltd, to produce hair care products such as shampoos, oils, and treatments.

These products will be sold both in Tanzania and in other countries.

Because the Mporojo tree is now in high demand, Tawiri has started new research on how to grow the tree sustainably to ensure it does not disappear from the wild.

The Tanzanian scientists also found a plant called Mugufe, known as Maerua edulis, that helps lighten the skin and reduce wrinkles.

This plant is called Ekwida in the Datoga language. The new skincare product has been registered as a Composition for Skin-Lightening and Improving Wrinkles Using Extract of Maerua edulis.

However, Tawiri is still looking for partners to help produce and sell it on the market.

Speaking for the director general of Tawiri, Mr Rogastian Msafiri said the bigger goal is to protect traditional medicinal plants by growing them in botanical gardens and using them in a way that helps local communities.

"The broader objective of the research was to conserve traditional medicinal plants at risk of extinction by integrating them into botanical gardens and ensuring their sustainable use for community benefit," he said.

The project was carried out by Tawiri, the Institute of Traditional Medicine under the Ministry of Health, and South Korea’s National Institute of Biological Resources.

The sister and brother, who were born a few minutes apart were unable to feed directly from their mother’s breast because of their initial size.

Born four inches shorter than the average calf, the twins had to be fed with bottled milk until after three days when they were able to suck breast milk directly with the aid of small wooden blocks.

The arrival of the twins takes the population of the elephant camp up to nine, an official at the camp was quoted by AFP.

Live footage captured by local media showed streams of orange lava illuminating the night sky as thick smoke billowed upwards.

The eruption, which started at 9:26 pm (2126 GMT) on the Sundhnuksgigarod, was preceded by a series of earthquakes, the IMO reported.

While the full extent of the fissure remains unassessed, this latest eruption comes just two months after the previous one, which lasted more than three weeks. The Reykjanes peninsula, located in southwestern Iceland, has become increasingly active after remaining dormant for eight centuries until a significant eruption in March 2021, the AFP reports.

Authorities have begun evacuating the nearby fishing village of Grindavik as a precaution, similar to previous eruptions. The number of residents currently in the area remains unknown.

Climate change currently is playing an increasingly significant role in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

Rising global temperatures are contributing to more severe weather events, including heatwaves, storms, and flooding. The melting of polar ice is also leading to rising sea levels, which increases the risk of coastal flooding.

While various nations experience the aforementioned disasters intermittently, there are a few countries in the world that hardly witness these misfortunes.

According to the 2023 World Risk Report , Andorra tops the list of countries with the lowest risk of natural disasters with a percentage of 0.2.

Following closely in second place is Monaco with a 0.24% chance of natural disasters. Additionally, San Marino places third with 0.36%.

For the fourth and fifth positions, Singapore and Luxembourg snagged them with 0.63 and 0.64 percent respectively.

Acknowledged for their low susceptibility to disasters on a worldwide scale, these countries possess strong economic structures, stable governance, and comprehensive legal systems. Such attributes make them attractive options for travellers and provide conducive settings for global business ventures and financial engagements.

The World Risk Index (WRI) determines the risk of becoming a victim of a disaster as a result of vulnerability and natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms, floods, droughts and sea level rise for 185 countries worldwide.

The WRI is based on 28 indicators and research data which are globally freely available and result in a global risk ranking and maps which allow for comparison between countries.

The cosmic event involves the Moon moving between the Earth and the Sun where all three planets are aligned. When this happens, the Moon casts a shadow which blocks some or all of the Sun’s rays from reaching the Earth.

This event is happening on April 8 2024 and although it is occurring in North America, the world is talking about it.

Here is what you need to know about the total eclipse and what the world is saying about it.

The eclipse is happening in North America from Mexico through the United States and Canada and will begin over the South Pacific Ocean. Although the full eclipse will be experienced in this part of the world, the UK will likely experience a partial eclipse where only part of the Sun will be covered by the Moon’s shadow.

The cosmic event began as a partial eclipse at 12:06 p.m. CDT in Texas and is expected to reach totality by about 1:27 p.m. CTD according to NASA .

The first area within North America to experience the total eclipse is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT.

The partial eclipse can also be seen in the western parts of the UK just before sunset from about 19:55 BST until sunset.

Scientists will take advantage of the eclipse to perform experiments, launch rockets into the sky, observe animal behaviour and study the corona.

Major cities where it will happen

San Antonio, Texas: 13:33 Central (19:33 BST)

Dallas, Texas: 13:40 Central

Carbondale, Illinois: 13:59 Central

Cleveland, Ohio: 15:13 Eastern

Buffalo, New York: 15:18 Eastern

Burlington, Vermont: 15:26 Eastern

Montreal, Quebec: 15:27 Eastern

Fredericton, New Brunswick: 16:33 Atlantic

Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador: 17:12 Newfoundland time

How long will it last?

The duration for the occurrence will vary depending on the area of viewing but eclipse viewers in Mexico will likely experience totality for the longest – about 4 minutes, 28 seconds, according to NASA.

In other places, it will last for about a minute and some seconds.

Safety and how to watch

According to NASA , except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s reflection, it is unsafe to look at the Sun without specialised glasses made for solar occurrences.

 What is the world saying?

While many are wishing North Americans a Happy Eclipse Day, others are sharing images of what the eclipse is expected to look like. Some others are just reacting to the news and sharing their experiences.

Here are a few reactions

What they said

Mozambique’s finance ministry said in a statement “The regulation represents a significant advance in the search for transparency, accountability, and good governance in the natural resources sector. Mozambique is laying the foundations for management based on best international practices.” Finance Minister, Max Tonela is quoted by Reuters to have said "the importance of the Sovereign Wealth Fund lies in the need to ensure that these revenues are used in a sustainable way to drive long-term economic development."