While America is locked in the snow-covered grasp of winter, people are dancing on the beaches of the Indian Ocean Islands.... But first, the bad news.

Renewed violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo marred the Christmas festivities. Long dormant, the Tutsi dominated M23 rebel group took advantage of the weak governance of the DRC to take control of several towns, killing many and probably re-establishing control over the mineral riches of part of this region.

Fingers pointed to Rwanda as the power behind this proxy force, and it should be remembered that, last time M23 was active, only a peace framework based on undertakings of all the countries in the region, and military firepower under United Nations control managed to re-establish peace. 

Upcoming Presidential elections in the DRC, ethnic clashes between population and military, lack of international control over the provenance of important minerals all contribute to the unstable situation that costs hundreds of lives. And the Ebola virus waits in the wings, ready to strike. 

West Africa is in the grips of a nightmare. Disintegration of government structures and rampant insurgency of Islamist rebels threatens the very structure of Burkina Faso. The interim Government, product of two military coups, has been dropped from the US duty-free list due to unconstitutional chance of government, but has also renounced historical dependence on France in favor of Russian mercenaries.

The French Ambassador has been sent home and a UN official declared unwanted. The gold production of this impoverished country and its strategic position on drug smuggling routes await control by the strongest. And the population suffers. 

But the most important news: while Americans are shivering in snowdrifts or shoveling their driveways, take note: The Seychelles islands have a serious economic problem. Traditional crafts such as weaving of straw hats, making brooms from coconut palm leaves, and cobbling to repair shoes will soon disappear, and this while the economy is rapidly recovering from the COVID years. 

Your humble scribe wishes to propose that some international body could set up a fund to preserve such skills. I can well imagine a future weaving straw hats for bikini-clad beauties on golden beaches such as these.