The noise is deafening. As the propellers spin and the pilots ready the plane for take-off, I lament my decision not to bring noise-cancelling headphones on this trip. The drone from the tiny 16-seater plane grows louder as we begin to move along the runway. A few seconds later, we are soaring high above Seychelles's lush mountainscapes.
Whether the noise dissipates or whether I am simply too enthralled by the scene below to notice anymore, I'm not quite sure, but a few minutes into the short flight to Praslin Island, I am completely engrossed in the grandeur below. As the plane soars over glassy waters, I watch the surface break every so often over the swell of an emerald-tinged island. The sun glints off the rippling shallows and waves crash against yellow bays, turning white as snow before rushing up coastlines and disappearing again beneath palm-fringed perimeters.
In the distance is the second largest island in the Seychelles archipelago. Flying over a cluster of thatched roofs, the pilots expertly navigate through the peaks and angles of Praslin's tree-strewn landscape and we land a few moments later.
We head to Constance Lemuria, the spot we will call home for the next few days. Set on 101 hectares of land, the five-star resort has nature at its heart. Home to idyllic beaches, including one of the most picturesque in the country, Anse Georgette, it is a little slice of natural paradise.
I set out to explore and, wandering among the mammoth granite rocks strewn across the resort, it's difficult not to feel as though I'm on the set of a Jurassic Park movie. I'm not surprised when I find out that a few million years ago, prehistoric creatures were thought to inhabit this area. Today, it is home to some of those dinosaurs' descendants.
Aldabra giant tortoises are endemic to the Seychelles and, at Constance Lemuria, they roam freely, stopping to nap in the shade of a palm tree or meandering ever so slowly along leaf-strewn riverbanks. "The tortoises are special," Markus Ultsch-Unrath, head of health, safety and environment project manager at Constance Hotels & Resorts, says. "They are only found in the Seychelles and people say they originally came from the Aldabra atoll."
Aldabra is the biodiversity jewel in the Seychelles' gleaming crown. Rivalling the Galapagos Islands in ecological importance, it is not only where the giant tortoises came from, it's also home to manta rays, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, spinner dolphins and dugongs, among others.
"Even before the islands were populated, there were tortoises here," says Ultsch-Unrath. What this means is that no one really knows how old some of the animals are. What we do know is that there are an estimated 100,000 left in the world. On Praslin, Leonardo is the eldest, at more than 100 years old and, at the hotel's sister resort, Constance Ephelia on Mahe Island, that title goes to Dusty, who was born in 1909.
As I watch the tortoises walk idly across the grass, I can't help but think that the chilled-out island life of the Seychelles seems like a good fit for these creatures. "Tortoises take life very easy," Ultsch-Unrath adds.
Making my way across the resort, I arrive at a thatched eco-hut a few metres from one of the resort's beachfronts. There, Robert Matombe, resident turtle manager, tells me about the resort's other VIPs. "Every season, we have a lot of sea turtles coming to our beach to nest," he says. "We have hawksbill and green turtles and the nesting period runs for about five months."
During this time, it's Matombe's job to ensure there is no light or noise pollution at the bays. He also monitors the turtle nests and helps guide hatchlings into the ocean. It's no small job, given that every season one female hawksbill turtle lays up to 200 eggs at a time. But he's not complaining. Compared to the turtles, he has it easy.
“It’s tough work,” he explains. “After mating, the female comes ashore to dig a hole about 50 centimetres deep in the sand. She puts about 200 of the eggs in there and uses her flippers to carefully camouflage the spot.
“Most of the eggs will hatch, but how many hatchlings will make it to the ocean? And then how many will make it to maturity?”
Strolling through the valley is much like walking through something from a fairy tale.
Even with help from the Constance Lemuria team, only 10 turtles on average will make it to maturity, which they reach at about 30 years old. "It's because they're surrounded by enemies," says Matombe. "As well as predators, they've got human threats such as fishing nets, fishing lines, plastic pollution and matchsticks. Plastic bags are the worst because they look like jellyfish, which is a sea turtle's favourite food."
Vowing to do more to eradicate plastic bags from my life, I head off to discover another fascinating facet of life on Praslin, in the island'ssee, the Vallee de Mai National Park. This area is one of only two spots on the planet where the coco de mer plant grows. Known for the voluptuous shape of its seeds, which are the largest in the plant kingdom, the coco de mer is a protected species with a remarkable nut.
Amid hundreds of trees, huge fronds shield me from the tropical rain as tour guide Angela prepares to explain more about the coco de mer. As we stop where a seed has ripened, at her suggestion, I pick it up – and it takes all of my strength to do so. Apparently, the seeds can weigh up to a 32 kilograms each.
Strolling through the valley is much like walking through something from a fairy tale. As the light streams through shades of green, thick trunks, huge stems and spreading fronds bluntly obstruct my view.
Angela regales me with legends about the coco de mer. She says that some people believed it grew beneath the waves of the ocean; others thought its seeds were so huge because they were formerly dispersed by dinosaurs. One man, upon seeing the shape of the nut and the nearby four connecting rivers, proclaimed that Praslin must be the Garden of Eden.
True or not, on this island kingdom where rare creatures have a home and the seeds are worthy of giants, Praslin is definitely a paradise found.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Tell-tale signs of burnout
- loss of confidence and appetite
- irritability and emotional outbursts
- sadness
- persistent physical ailments such as headaches, frequent infections and fatigue
- substance abuse, such as smoking or drinking more
- impaired judgement
- excessive and continuous worrying
- irregular sleep patterns
Tips to help overcome burnout
Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do
Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones
Find your form of relaxation and make time for it each day e.g. soothing music, reading or mindful meditation
Sleep and wake at the same time every day, even if your sleep pattern was disrupted. Without enough sleep condition such as stress, anxiety and depression can thrive.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Mountain%20Boy
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