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Woods had five drugs in system

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Woods had five drugs in systemWoods had five drugs in system Former world number one golfer Tiger Woods had five different drugs in his system when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in May, according to an ESPN report on Monday.

ESPN, which cited a copy of the toxicology report, said Woods had Hydrocodone, the generic form of a painkiller branded as Vicodin; Hydromorphone, a painkiller known as Dilaudid; Alprazolam, a mood and sleep drug known as Xanax; Zolpidem, a sleep drug known as Ambien; and Delta-9 carboxy THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in his system.

It is not known if Woods had prescriptions for all of the medications. Medical marijuana is legal in Florida.

A request made by Reuters to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for a copy of the toxicology report was not returned.

Woods, who is second on the all-time list with 14 major titles, checked into a clinic in June for treatment to help deal with prescription drugs.

He said last month he had completed treatment. “As I previously said, I received professional help to manage my medications,” Woods said in a statement.

“Recently, I had been trying on my own to treat my back pain and a sleep disorder, including insomnia, but I realise now it was a mistake to do this without medical assistance.

“I am continuing to work with my doctors, and they feel I've made significant progress. I remain grateful for the amazing support that I continue to receive and for the family and friends that are assisting me.”

Police found Woods stopped on the side of a Palm Beach-area road in his Mercedes-Benz at about 03:00 on May 29.

He had “extremely slow and slurred speech” after being awakened by a police officer but was cooperative and told officers he takes several prescriptions, including Xanax, according to a police report.

Woods, who had been heading away from his home, could not remember where he was going and told police he was returning from Los Angeles.

A blood test showed he had the painkiller Vicodin and the antidepressant Xanax in his system but no alcohol. He was charged with driving under the influence and improperly stopping his vehicle.

In a statement after his arrest, Woods apologised to fans and blamed the incident on prescription medication he was taking to manage pain from a recent back surgery.

NAMPA / REUTERS

Real to appeal Ronaldo card

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Real to appeal Ronaldo cardReal to appeal Ronaldo card10 days for Christiano Ronaldo to appeal Christiano Ronaldo's team Real Madrid wants to appeal his five-game suspension after he shoved a referee on Sunday. Real Madrid will appeal Cristiano Ronaldo's second yellow card for diving in the Spanish Super Cup first leg at Barcelona, coach Zinedine Zidane said after the Portuguese showed the best and worst side of his game in Real's 3-1 win.

Ronaldo spent 24 minutes on the pitch after not starting the game at the Nou Camp but still had the biggest impact.

The 32-year-old, who was given a hostile reception by Barca fans as he warmed up before replacing Karim Benzema, hit back moments after Lionel Messi's equaliser with a brilliant strike into the top corner to put Real 2-1 up in the 80th minute.

The Portuguese threw off his shirt after scoring and provocatively held it up to the crowd and was booked.

Two minutes later he was sent off for trying to win a penalty in a challenge from Samuel Umtiti, angrily pushing referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea before leaving the pitch.

“We played a great game but I am annoyed by Cristiano's sending off,” Zidane told a news conference.

“Perhaps it wasn't a penalty but the red card is a little harsh. We can't change it, but we'll try and make sure he plays today.”

Madrid captain Sergio Ramos also leapt to Ronaldo's defence.

“I think he was caught off balance and he didn't dive,” said the defender. “We should try and appeal it. It should be analysed a little more.”

Marco Asensio scored Real's third with a stunning long range goal in the 90th minute, giving Madrid a healthy advantage as they seek to win a fourth trophy in four months and earn their first Super Cup since 2012.

“We fought with 10 players, we believed until the end but it's only one game, we have the second leg up next,” added Zidane.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said his side had not deserved to lose 3-1. “I don't have the sensation we were as far away from them as the score line suggests,” he said.

“They scored three times, but we played well and had our chances.

“They caught us on the counter attack when it was 1-1 and scored a great goal, and then another one. But it's not just about getting into the danger zone; it's about putting your chances away.”



NAMPA/REUTERS

Nadal to become number one

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Nadal to become number oneNadal to become number one Rafael Nadal was assured a return to world number one for the first time since July of 2014 on Monday when 19-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer withdrew from this week's ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament.

Third-ranked Federer said he injured his back in Montreal, where he lost in the final to Germany's Alexander Zverev.

Federer, this year's Wimbledon and Australian Open champion was the only player who could have denied world number two, Nadal the top spot in next Monday's rankings.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who won his 15th Grand Slam title at this year's French Open, will overtake Britain's top-ranked Andy Murray, who withdrew from Montreal and Cincinnati with a hip injury.

Federer, a seven-time champion on the Cincinnati hardcourts, could yet move into the world number one spot, but his next chance will come at the US Open, the year's final Grand Slam event that begins August 28 in New York.

“I am very sorry to pull out of the Western and Southern Open as I always enjoy playing,” Federer said. “Cincinnati has some of the best fans in the world and I am sorry I will miss them.

“Unfortunately, I tweaked my back in Montreal and I need to rest this week.”

Nadal, who has spent 141 total weeks in the top spot, became world number one for the first time in August 2008 after a semi-final run at Cincinnati.

For Federer to have taken the top spot at Cincinnati, he would have had to at least reach the semi-finals. Had Federer reached the final, Nadal would have had to win the title to stop the Swiss star from becoming number one.

Federer will be replaced in the men's draw by Italian lucky loser Thomas Fabbiano, the world number 85 who will enjoy a first-round bye and face either Argentina's Diego Schwartzman or Russia's Karen Khachanov in the second round.



NAMPA/AFP

Aakalimo yomOmatando inaya a dha etsokumwe naMuni gwaNgwediva

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Aakalimo yomOmatando inaya a dha etsokumwe naMuni gwaNgwedivaAakalimo yomOmatando inaya a dha etsokumwe naMuni gwaNgwedivaAakwashigwana taya pula iifuta okuza kumuni Sha landula oolopota dha piti miikundaneki kutya aakalimo yomOmatando nElelo lyaMuni gwaNgwediva oya a dha etsokumwe kombinga yetulo meni lyoongamba dhondoolopa omudhingoloko ngoka, aakwashigwana oya ningi omutumba mehuliloshiwike taya popi kutya inaya a dha etsokumwe nelelo lyondoolopa ndjoka. Aakalimo oya popi kutya kape na etsokumwe lya adhika nelelo lyondoolopa ndjoka, na inali pumbwa okugandja uuyelele wa puka moshigwana.

Oya popi kutya ngele ope na etsokumwe nena elelo lyondoolopa olya pumbwa oku ya ulukila etsokumwe ndyoka. Aakwashigwana oya holola woo kutya itaya ka pitika etulo meni lyoongamba dhondoolopa omudhingoloko gwawo, omanga inaya pewa iifuta yi li pauyuuki, taya pula kutya omolwashike elelo lyondoolopa ndjoka lya hala okutula meni lyondoolopa yawo omudhingoloko gwawo, omanga inali futa natango aakwashigwana.

“Evi ndyoka kali shi lyondoolopa ihe olyaakalimo yomOmatando nongele elelo lyondoolopa olya hala okukutha ko evi ndyoka , nena oli na okufuta aakwashigwana ngaashi hashi ningwa….shoka elelo lyaNgwediva tali ningi itashi endele pamwe nompango,” omunamukunda gumwe a a lombwele oshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun.

Omupopiliko gwondoolopa yaNgwediva, Jackson Muma okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya efuto lyaakwashigwana mboka otali ka ningwa tali endele pamwe netulo lyondoolopa ndjoka moongamba dhondoolopa yaNgwediva.

Sho a pulwa ngele otashi ka ningwa tashi endele pamwe nompango ndjoka tayi pula efuto lyaakwashigwana uuna taya kuthwa omahala gawo, Muma okwa popi kutya omulandu ngoka itagu utha kutya aantu naya futwe tango omanga inaya kuthwa pomahala gawo.

Sho Muma a pulwa ngele elelo lyondoolopa oli na tuu iiyemo tayi vulu okufuta aakalimo yomomudhingoloko ngoka, okwa yamukula kutya iiyemo otayi vulu okumonika.

Omatando 1, 2 no 3 Omatando oga ningi oshitopolwa shondoolopa yaNgwediva, okupitila momushangwa gwopapangelo gwonomola 5038 gwomwedhi Sepetemba gwo2012, gweendele pamwe nompango yomalelo goondooloa onti-23 yomo-1992.

Omudhingoloko ngoka otagu yi oshinano shookilometa 8 monooli yondoolopa na oya kwatelamo omikunda ngaashi Oupumako, Okatope, Omusheshe, Okaandje, Okahenge, ombinga yOndjodjo, Oshidhilaadhila, Omayango nOhendjele.

Ongwediva Town Council oyiikalekela oshimaliwa shooN$800 000 momumvo gwoshimaliwa gwo2016/2017 niimaliwa mbyoka oya nuninwa elundulukilo lyomukunda ngoka mondoolopa.

Omwedhi gwa piti, elelo lyondoolopa ndjoka olya tseyithile aakalimo yomOmatando kutya inaya pitikwa okutunga omatungo gawo sigo omwedhi Januari 2018.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Egandjo lyiimaliwa kooskola dhopaumwene tali talululwa

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Egandjo  lyiimaliwa kooskola dhopaumwene  tali talululwaEgandjo lyiimaliwa kooskola dhopaumwene tali talululwaOnkalo ndjoka otayi ka thiminika ooskola dhi pate nenge dhi gwedhele oondando Ooskola dhopaumwene ndhoka hadhi pewa omakwatho giiyemo kepangelo opo dhi gandje ompito kaanona taya lumbu moluhepo noodhigwa ya hite oskola mooskola moka otashi vulika shi ka kanithe ekwatho ndyoka. Ooskola ndhoka okwa lopotwa kutya odha pewa sigo omasiku 31 gaKotomba opo dhi shange omikanda tadhi holola kutya omolwashike omakwatho ngoka hadhi pewa inaga pumbwa okushunithwa pevi nenge ga kuthwe po.

Ominista yElongo, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa momasiku ga8 gaAguste nuumvo okwa shangele ooskola ndhoka tedhi tseyithile kutya epangelo olya hala okutalulula ekwatho lyiimaliwa ndyoka hali pewa ooskola ndhoka.

“Ooskola dhopaumwene otadhi dhimbulukithwa mpaka kutya odhi na oomwedhi ndatu sigo 31 gaKotomba 2017, dhi shange kutya omolwashike omakwatho ngoka hadhi pewa kuuministeli inaga kuthwa po nenge omwaalu gwomakwatho gu shunithwe pevi. Kehe oskola nayi gandje omatompelo gawo, ngoka ga pumbwa okuukithwa kuuminsiteli momasiku nenge omanga omasiku 31 gomwedhi Kotomba inaga thikana.”

Oshikondo shelongo oshili muupyakadhi sho omalelo taga kambadhala okushunitha pevi omwaalu gwiimaliwa mbyoka tayi longithwa kepangelo.

Minista okwa li woo a kunkilile kutya epangelo otashi vulika li ka hulithe po omukalo gwokugandja ekwatho lyiiyemo kooskola dhopaumwene, naashoka otashi keetitha ooskola ndhoka dhi pate omiyelo nenge dhi gwedhele oondando pombanda noonkondo.



Omukomeho gwoWindhoek Gymnasium, Colette Rieckert, okwa popi kutya otashi ka uvitha nayi noonkondo ngele epangelo olya tokola okuhulitha po ekwatho ndyoka, na okwa holola kutya oskola ye oyi na aanona mboka taya lumbu moluhepo yeli 157.

“Shoka otashi tu uvitha nayi na otashi ti otu na okugwedhela oondando dhetu. Egwedhelo lyoondando otali ka etitha tu kanithe aanaskola molwaashoka ope na nale mboka taya nana nondatu mokufuta iifuta yoskola.”



Okwa tsikile kutya etokolo ndyoka otali ka gumwa woo epangelo molwaashoka otali ka ya moshipala elongo lyaanona ngoka, na okwa zimine kutya oskola yawo oya mono oshimaliwa shoo 700 000 okuza kepangelo, omvula ya piti.



Omukuluntuskola gumwe poskola yopaumwene ngoka ina hala opo uukwatya we wuhololwe okwa popi kutya etokolo ndyoka ngele olwa tulwa miilonga otali ka etitha ooskola dhopaumwene dhi pate nenge dhi gwedhele noonkondo oondando.





Emma Kakona, ngoka e li omutotipo gwoskola yedhina Amazing Kids Private School okwa popi kutya ngele epangelo olya tokola ngaaka, nena ooskola dhimwe otadhi ka thiminikwa konkalo opo dhi kuthe mooskola aanona mboka.

Oonkambadhala okumona omayamukulo okuza kuuministeli welongo osha hulile muunyengwi sho inawu yamukula omapulo ngoka wa tuminwa koshifokundaneki shika.

OMUTOOLINKUNDANA GWOMENI

Oshikumungu shaathaneki yomatungo AaZimbabwe sha yi kOmuprima

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Oshikumungu shaathaneki yomatungo AaZimbabwe sha yi kOmuprimaOshikumungu shaathaneki yomatungo AaZimbabwe sha yi kOmuprima Ongundu yaanyasha aanashilonga aathaneki yomatungo oshowo aayaluli yomwaalu nongushu yiitungitho oya ndjika oonyala mevi kutya otaya ka konga ekwatho kOmpangu yoPombanda omolwa etokolo lyOminista yIilonga nOmalweendo, Alpheus !Naruseb opo aakwashigwana yaZimbambwe ya thika po-29 ya shangithwe nolutu lwoNamibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors ina ku landulwa ompango.

Kwiikwatelelwa komukomeho gwongundu ndjoka ngoka ina hala uukwatya we wu hololwe okwa popi kutya oya tokola okukonga ekwatho kompangu.

Pahapu dhe uuministeli owa mwena kombinga yoshikumungu shoka, naashoka osho tashi ya thiiminike ya ka konge ekwatho okuza kompangu yopombanda.

“Okupopya oshili inatu mona eyamukulo okuza kuuministeli wiilonga. Uuyelele mboka twa mono po oomboka owala kutya otaya shanga ombaapila,” Onzo yimwe ya popi.

“Otwa tokola okuya kompangu, otwa yalula nale kutya otashi ke tu pula ingapi moondjato na otwa pyakudhukwa okukutha ondjila ndjoka.”

Ongundu yaanashilonga mboka okupitila momukalelipo gwawo gwopaveta, Sisa Namandje, oya gandja omasiku omulongo kuminista opo a gandje eyamukulo.

Omupopiliko guuministeli mboka, Julius Ngweda kwa popi kutya oshikumungu shoka ngashiingeyi oshili momake gombelewa yOmuprima gwoshilongo.

Namandje okwa shangele !Naruseb omukanda oshiwike sha piti, ta nyenyeta kutya etokolo ndyoka a ningi ka li li mondjila opo ku gandjwe uuwanawa kaakwashigwana mboka yaZimbabwe komapepe gaakwashigwana yaNamibia. Okwa holola woo kutya etokolo ndyoka ka li li pamulandu, nuuna minista iidhimbike omanyenyeto ngoka, nena ongundu ndjoka otayi ka konga ekwatho kOmpangu yoPombanda moshilongo opo yi kuthe oonondo etokolo ndyoka lya ningwa komukomeho gwoshikondo shiilonga nomalweendo moshilongo.

OGONE TLHAGE

Setting the platform for the UK’s post-Brexit trade relations

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Setting the platform for the UK’s post-Brexit trade relationsSetting the platform for the UK’s post-Brexit trade relations LORD PRICE

Throughout my visit to South Africa and Namibia last month, I was struck by the bonds that link the UK and the Southern African region. Our historical, commercial, educational and Commonwealth links all help underpin our longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship

For me this relationship has a personal significance. Over nearly two decades during my career at British supermarket chain Waitrose I made regular visits to South Africa, visiting suppliers who exported excellent food and wine. I was there to support the work of the Waitrose Foundation, a scheme which sees a percentage of profits reinvested directly back into the farming communities of the Western Cape.

I saw how over 50 000 farmworkers and their families benefited because of the Foundation and its partners.

This visit I was delighted to be able to make my first trip to Namibia and to not only hear about, but taste some or your excellent products – including Namibian beef of course, which is one of the most important exports to the UK.

British business has a long-held commitment to supporting Southern Africa’s economic growth and development. My purpose in visiting the region was to make that message clear: the UK’s withdrawal from the EU does not signify a withdrawal from the world, but an increased openness, and that long-held commitment remains steadfast.

Trade is now back at the heart of the UK government’s policy agenda, and for the first time in over 30 years, the UK has a dedicated department for international trade. It is the job of my department to help build a Global Britain – the most passionate advocate of open, free and fair trade anywhere in the world.

We will strengthen and revive trading arrangements with some of the world’s most dynamic economies. Post-Brexit, we will be able to take advantage of the 90% of global growth that is projected to occur beyond the borders of Europe – with a key focus on Africa.

Our priority is to ensure continuity and avoid any disruption to trade with our African partners. That’s why at the G20 Summit Prime Minister Theresa May announced a new partnership with Africa, focused more strongly on supporting African aspirations for trade, investment and growth. It’s also why I agreed with my Southern African counterparts to ensure that there is no disruption to our trading relationship under the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as the UK leaves the EU.

That was the key purpose of my visit to Southern Africa – meeting with trade ministers and representatives from Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, to discuss how we can work together on an arrangement that replicates the effects of the EPA once the UK has left the EU. I’m pleased that we’re like-minded on this: we agreed that this should be a straightforward task in our mutual interest.

As a development-focused trade agreement first and foremost, the EPA provides a high degree of market access. This will continue. More than this, however, the EPA aims to increase development, support regional integration around trade, help develop regional value chains, and ultimately create a stable business climate so UK and African businesses can trade with confidence.

None of these aims change when the UK leaves the EU. We will continue to support African economies by offering a high degree of market access for their goods..

A swift and straightforward replication of the current trading arrangement should provide certainty to traders and businesses – small and large, all across the region. This is not simply about avoiding any disruption to the status quo, but about securing a foundation enabling us to work together to strengthen and deepen our trading relationship in the future. We are counting on your support throughout.

Underpinning all of this is our recognition that the UK’s relationship with our African partners represents an exciting and enhanced trading opportunity into the future. Our common values, shared history, and commercial confidence in each other’s economies mean we have a strong base from which to build. I look forward to seeing what more we can achieve together.

EU cross about Brexit divorce bill

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EU cross about Brexit divorce billEU cross about Brexit divorce bill NAMPA/REUTERS

Britain said yesterday that the European Union's chief negotiator was getting quite cross over the Brexit divorce bill that he thinks Britain should pay but that an agreement would be eventually made.

Brexit secretary David Davis said he wanted to have an interim arrangement with the EU after the March 2019 exit date for trade to flow in an unfettered way.

But Davis said that chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier had got upset over the so-called divorce bill which the EU wants to be agreed before it says talks can move on to Britain's future relationship with the bloc.

"We're going to have a long haggle," Davis told LBC radio. "Michel is getting quite cross with us. He's saying 'you should make your proposal'.

"It's going to be quite tough and difficult. But we aren't going to be ending up paying the 10 billion a year which is what we pay now. We're going to sort this out."

The blue economy

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The blue economyThe blue economyCan offshore fish farming feed a hungry world? Coastal and inland aquaculture already accounts for more than half of the fish consumed around the world. Many regions, especially in Africa and Asia, depend on fish for protein. NAMPA/AFP



Harvesting fish and shellfish from offshore farms could help provide essential protein to a global population set to expand a third to 10 billion by mid-century, researchers say.

Suitable open-sea zones have the potential to yield 15 billion tonnes of fish every year, more than 100 times current worldwide seafood consumption, they reported in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution yesterday.

But severe pollution, rising costs, and intense competition for shoreline real estate mean that production in these areas cannot expand indefinitely.

Wild fishery catches, meanwhile, have mostly plateaued or are in decline.

That leaves the deep blue sea, or at least territorial waters up to 200 metres deep -- the practical limit for anchoring commercial farms.

"Oceans represent an immense opportunity for food production, yet the open ocean environment is largely untapped as a farming resource," the authors noted.

To assess that potential, a team of researchers led by Rebecca Gentry, a professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, undertook a series of calculations.

First they divvied up the ocean into a grid, excluding areas that were too deep or already given over to oil extraction, marine parks or shipping lanes, for example.

Some 11.4 million square kilometres of ocean could be developed for fish, and 1.5 million square kilometres for bivalves, such as mussels, the study found.

Then - to calculate the biomass that might be harvested - the team matched 120 fish species and 60 bivalves to cells in the grid, depending on the temperature of the water and other factors such as oxygen density.

Currently, just over 40 species make up 90 percent of global seafood production. Only four percent of the total consists of finfish, such as salmon, barramundi, groupers and bass.

All the wild fish harvested worldwide could be obtained from an area the size of Lake Michigan, or Belgium and the Netherlands combined, the study showed.

"Nearly every coastal country has high marine aquaculture potential and could meet its own domestic seafood demand... typically using only a minute fraction of its ocean territory," the authors said.

Many of the countries with the highest potential, Indonesia, India and Kenya among them, are also predicted to experience sharp increases in population, they noted.

The findings show "that space is currently not a limiting factor for the expansion of oceanic aquaculture," said Max Troell, a scientist at the Stockholm Resilience Centre who was not involved in the research.

But hurdles remain before production can be ramped up to meet a significant portion of global demand, he added in a commentary, also in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

"The big challenges facing the near-term expansion of the aquaculture sector lie in the development of sustainable feeds, and in better understanding how large-scale ocean farming systems interact with ecosystems and human well-being," he wrote.

Businesswomen’s initiative in 18th year

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Businesswomen’s initiative in 18th yearBusinesswomen’s initiative in 18th year BLUE SUPPORT: Standard Bank contributed to the success of the 18th Economist Businesswomen Conference held at Ongwediva recently. The conference under the Economist Businesswomen’s Club attracted a large number of local business and professional women. The bank sponsored N$85 000 towards the Northern Economist Businesswomen’s Conference.

Photo: CONTRIBUTED

Buzz ahead of Ongwediva trade fair

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Buzz ahead of Ongwediva trade fairBuzz ahead of Ongwediva trade fairMore than 450 exhibitors show interest The organisers of the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair are in the final stages of preparation. The 2017 Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair has attracted 456 Namibian and international exhibitors, who have confirmed that they will showcase their products and services at the show.

The spokesperson of the Ongwediva town council, Jackson Muma, told Nampa that international exhibitors will be coming from Tanzania, South Africa, Indonesia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, China, India, Malaysia and Botswana.

The OATF last year attracted 465 exhibitors.

Asked why the number of exhibitors was lower this year, Muma said the OATF preparatory committee was waiting for nine more exhibitors to confirm their participation.

He noted that the installations of stalls, where exhibitors will be displaying their products and serve their visitors during the nine-day OATF, started last week.

“Today we conducted [a] briefing parade for security officers, who are going to maintain order and provide protection for the exhibitors and visitors throughout the duration of the trade show,” Muma said, adding that five security firms were contracted.

The security firms are National Protection Services, Waakali Security, Gwandani Security, Shikuvule Security and Triple One Security.

The security firms will provide 97 officers per shift and these will be joining the Namibian Police, which will have a mobile charge office at the showgrounds until the end of the trade fair.

“Members of the Women and Men Network against Crime will also be involved in the provision of security,” he said.

President Hage Geingob is expected to open the show on 30 August. The 18th edition of the OATF will be held between 25 August and 2 September.

NAMPA

Dome and NCCI promise best SWAITEX yet

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Dome and NCCI promise best SWAITEX yetDome and NCCI promise best SWAITEX yet The Swakopmund International Trade Expo returns with much fanfare and promises to be bigger and better than in previous years, according to events coordinator Romona Poulton.

SWAITEX will be held at The Dome again, and this year's theme is 'Embracing Innovation and Technology'. SWAITEX will run from 11 to 14 October.

Poulton says there has been great interest from the public so far.

“More than 70 stalls have been confirmed, and SWAITEX will host several new focus points. But we have ensured that we can accommodate up to 150 exhibitors. People have until 31 August to book their spot,” she says.

Poulton, who has been involved with the organisation of a number of major events in Dubai and who feels very passionate about SWAITEX 2017, says they have been working around the clock to ensure that everything will be in place, and perfectly so.

Over the past four years SWAITEX has hosted exhibitors in the mining, tourism, transport, medical, energy, education, logistic, public services, commercial and retail industries. There has also been strong representation from the SME, sports, wine, décor, catering, construction and outdoor sectors.

According to Poulton, everybody is working hard to bring more companies on board from industries that have not participated before, such as the infrastructure, medical and financial sectors.

Poulton says at the moment the main focus is on the SWAITEX fundraising dinner that will be held at the Dome Conference Centre on 16 September.

Around 300 people will be able to attend the dinner, which promises to be an unforgettable affair. Tables or individual tickets can be bought, she says.

“Our gala dinner theme this year is 'On Safari', to echo and celebrate the wonderful assets of our unique country and region. Great food, great company, great live music will make for a very special evening,” she says.

STAFF REPORTER

Untangling the Moody's decision

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Untangling the Moody's decisionUntangling the Moody's decisionDowngrade hardly surprising IJG says Namibia's credit-rating downgrade by Moody's should not be seen as a failure and corrective action can be taken. Following last week's decision by ratings agency Moody's to downgrade Namibia's unsecured long-term debt stock from Baa3 to Ba1, stockbroking firm IJG has analysed the move.

According to IJG, Moody's was justified in its decision to downgrade Namibia to junk status, since the government's debt had grown, fiscal strength had been eroded and questions remained as to how fast the government could service its outstanding debts.

“Debt issuance over the past two years has been substantial. Debt to GDP has gone from just over 26% in June 2015 to 41.9% at present. Add in the portion of the African Development Bank loan received already and this goes up further.

This debt was raised partially to fund government expenditure and partially to support the external position of the country,” said IJG. On the issue of limited institutional capacity to manage shocks and address long-term structural fiscal rigidities, IJG felt that the ratings agency had made the right move.

“The argument posted by Moody's is very clear. Examples of the erosion of fiscal strength are provided and spot on. Budget deficits in 2015/16 and 2016/17 were larger than expected due to overoptimistic revenue forecasts which did not materialise.”

IJG further supported the Moody's decision by casting doubt on the government's ability to make payments due to creditors. Although it acknowledged that the government had indeed paid its dues to the construction sector, the delay in payment was a concern.

“The downgrade was inevitable as initial efforts to drive structural changes have not been immediately evident. Indeed, the opposite has been witnessed as government has struggled to pay outstanding invoices to the private sector.

“The inability to pay invoices is what would have been most concerning to Moody's as it brings into question the ability of government to honour its debt obligations.

“Much of these invoices have been settled as government has pointed out, but there was a substantial delay in satisfying many of these obligations, which is concerning,” said IJG.

“We are cognisant of the fiscal measures implemented by government thus far and expect to see further commitment to these in the mid-term budget review scheduled for October.

“The Moody's downgrade should not be seen as a failure of government but rather a warning to correct course after slowly straying from a sustainable path for the better part of a decade,” the IJG assessment read.

STAFF REPORTER

Tough times for farmers

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Tough times for farmersTough times for farmers Livestock producers are experiencing a particularly difficult period, where input costs are outstripping their income due to the current economic climate.

Meatco says as a company it realises that producers are experiencing a difficult period but, there is only so much that it can do.

“Despite the challenges Meatco faces along with the depressed trading environment in our key markets, whether the South African consumer market or the European market; we will continue to do our level best to keep the producer price stable in the interest of our farmers,” Meatco said.

Meatco is regulated by the Meat Corporation of Namibia Act (Act 1 of 2001) to serve, promote and coordinate livestock producers' interests in Namibia, and to strive for the stabilisation of the local meat industry.

According to Meatco, the 2016 Bureau of Food and Agriculture Policy (BFAP) Outlook Conference stated that 2016 was perhaps the most challenging year for Namibian farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole. For Meatco, 2017 was similarly expected to be challenging for Namibian cattle farmers in a post-drought year. With Namibia having slid into a “technical” recession, the agricultural industry has not been spared of hardship either.

“Being a post-drought year, there has been a high per kilogramme cost for live cattle which can be attributed to farmers restocking while competing in the market for available cattle; a situation also directly affecting Meatco,” the company said.

However, according to Meatco, on a positive note, Namibian farmers are likely to benefit from lower feed prices as result of better harvests in the region. Nonetheless, the impact is considered minimal under normal rain circumstances due to a large portion of the national herd being free-range.

According to a financial news website, investopedia.com, recessions come and go, and history shows that recessions invariably end, and when they do, an economic recovery follows, Meatco said.

“Meatco has come a long way with many highs and we remain ready to do what we know best, to assist where we can and to ensure that the journey continues by honouring all responsibilities towards our producers.”



STAFF REPORTER

Agri challenges under the spotlight

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Agri challenges under the spotlightAgri challenges under the spotlightCommittee discusses livestock marketing The shortage of weaners and slaughter-ready cattle, along with other marketing and trade challenges for livestock farmers, were considered by stakeholders. The National Livestock Marketing Committee (NLMC), through the Meat Board of Namibia, recently held a meeting during which longstanding issues impacting the agricultural sector were discussed.

The committee meets on a quarterly basis every year and it forms part of the Meat Board's mandate to establish and facilitate livestock marketing and trade platforms in Namibia.

At the meeting, the sheep marketing scheme, market diversification and the marketing of livestock and their products in the Northern Communal Area (NCA) were under discussion.

The committee also constantly reviews the performance of these markets and identifies potential new markets in its quest to contribute to enhancing the agricultural sector.

The general performance of the industry through livestock marketing opportunities of cattle, goats and sheep were considered, including a breakdown of these commodities into slaughter cattle or weaners, dependent on the different market segments they serve.

During the meeting, the marketing of animals locally, as well as live exports to neighbouring countries, was also discussed. The retention of live exported weaners to neighbouring South Africa was also on the agenda to ensure that there will be enough slaughter cattle in the local market by 2019. This paints an accurate picture on how the meat industry will sustain itself going forward.

Trade matters and how Namibia benefits from current arrangements were also considered. The committee examined existing trade arrangements with third parties such as the Economic Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) consisting of the Norwegian group and its benefits to the industry. The possible implication of Brexit as well as its impact on Namibia and the Southern African Custom Union (SACU) was one of the issues deliberated. The meeting also highlighted ways in which operators like Meatco can position itself to benefit from the current Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

According to Meatco's executive stakeholder relations and corporate affairs, Vehaka Tjimune, the agricultural industry is well organised in terms of how matters are addressed through the Meat Board objectively looking at the interest of all the stakeholders at industry level.

“This is positive for the agricultural sector in Namibia because it allows for various stakeholders to make decisions that benefit the entire industry,” Tjimune said.

In attendance at the meeting were Meatco members who are also part of the Abattoirs Association of Namibia (AAN), the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO), the National Agricultural Union (NAU), the Meat Board and the Livestock Auctioneers, Brokers and Trade Association (LABTA).



STAFF REPORTER

NAU prepares for land conference

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NAU prepares for land conferenceNAU prepares for land conference 'The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) has formulated an extensive document which also includes its position on land ownership in Namibia in preparation for the second national land conference which will be held this year.

According to the union, it has since independence and especially after the 1991 conference, committed itself to a successful and sustainable land reform process in Namibia.

The NAU said in its latest newsletter that throughout the years the union has drafted various reports and documents in order to give its viewpoint with regard to this important process in Namibia.

“The point of departure of the NAU was always been to support land reform in the national context,” the union said.

According to the union, besides specific viewpoints based on the 1991 land conference's decisions, the NAU also formulated viewpoints with regard to the willing-seller, willing-buyer principle, land tax, communal as well as rural land, farm sizes, land prices and ancestral rights.

“This document will be the core of the NAU's viewpoints at the second national land conference and will also be provided to the Ministry of Land Reform in an attempt to contribute towards a future successful land reform policy and strategy in Namibia,” the union said.

STAFF REPORTER

NCA abattoirs to reopen

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NCA abattoirs to reopenNCA abattoirs to reopenRelief for farmers in the northern area Two companies, Zamco and Kiat Investments, are to take over operations at the Katima Mulilo and Oshakati abattoirs respectively. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has announced the two operators that will take over the government-owned abattoirs in the Northern Communal Area (NCA) after Meatco announced it will not renew its contract with government.

Zambezi Meat Corporation (Zamco) will be taking over operations at the Katima Mulilo abattoir, while Kiat Investments will be taking over at Oshakati abattoir.

The lease agreement signed with the ministry is for 25 years and may be extended.

They will make N$14 million available for the rehabilitation of the Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs.

The money will be sourced from the N$110 million allocation to the Directorate of Veterinary Services from the European Development Fund.

The agricultural minister, John Mutorwa, said the Northern Communal Area is currently excluded from a market.

“There is no formal market. It is a big problem. Therefore it is very important for these operators to open these abattoirs so that once operational there is some market outlet for these farmers.”

Mutorwa elaborated on the last few years and said it has been very hard on livestock farmers.

He described the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in May 2015 in some of the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) as a national disaster, but said that the catastrophe also brought the country together and therefore Namibia was able to be declared free of FMD in January last year.

“As if the FMD outbreak was not bad enough, there was the drought,” said Mutorwa.

He said the country has however received good rain and the two operators are ready to start and farmers can start selling their livestock again.

Mutorwa said that meat from the NCA, through commodity trading and if properly handled, can be traded anywhere. “There is nothing wrong with it.”

According to Kiat Investments, it is terrible that years have passed in which these farmers have been unable to access markets, especially since they depend on livestock to make their living.

The company noted that the facilities have not been used for years and need to be rendered operational, which will take time.

Meatco announced last year it will no longer operate and manage the two abattoirs after accumulating immense losses for several years.

After Meatco announced it will not renew its agreement, the company decided it will instead make use of mobile slaughter units within the Northern Communal Areas.

Last year, Zamco rejected the proposed introduction of the mobile slaughter in the region. The Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs were managed and operated by Meatco since 1991.



ELLANIE SMIT

Modi says India will fight foreign threats

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Modi says India will fight foreign threatsModi says India will fight foreign threats India is strong enough to defend its borders against any threat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an Independence Day speech as the nation faces a frontier showdown with China and aggravated tensions with Pakistan.

"Security is our top priority," Modi told thousands packed into the landmark Red Fort in New Delhi yesterday as India marked the 70th anniversary of the end of British colonial rule.

"Be it the sea or the borders, cyber or space - in all spheres, India is capable and we are strong enough to overcome those who try to act against our country," the Hindu nationalist leader declared.

Modi, who wore a Rajasthani turban with a long flowing orange train, toned down his comments from three previous Independence Day speeches and did not mention the targets of his warning.

But his remarks came as a dispute between India and China over a strategic Himalayan plateau enters a third month on Wednesday. Hundreds of soldiers are reported to be facing off against each other at Doklam.

The giant neighbours share a long history of mistrust and went to war in 1962 over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

China's state-controlled media has repeatedly warned that a conflict could break out over Doklam.

India has urged a diplomatic solution to the standoff. The dispute started on June 16 when Chinese troops started to build a road on territory that it disputes with Bhutan. India troops moved in to stop the construction as India is a close ally of Bhutan.

India is also mired in conflict in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, where it has disputed sovereignty with Pakistan since their bitter split in 1947.

India accuses Pakistan of sending "terrorists" across the border to fight security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Modi, who said he spoke with US President Donald Trump on the eve of the speech, said: "The concern for national security is a natural one in an independent India.

"Our security forces have always shown their capabilities whenever on duty. Whether it is terrorism or infiltrators, our security personnel have always been ready for sacrifice."

India carried out what it called "surgical strikes" in Pakistan in September last year after insurgents attacked an army base on the Indian side of the Kashmir border, killing 18 soldiers.

"When the surgical strike was carried out, the world came to know about the power that India possesses," Modi said in his speech.

He added that "bullets and abuses" cannot bring peace in Kashmir - where there are an estimated 500 000 Indian troops - but also accused Kashmiri separatists of "scheming".

The prime minister did not mention the 1947 partition that saw the creation of Muslim-dominated Pakistan and Hindu-majority India. At least one million people died in the chaotic aftermath of the split and 15 million were uprooted in the brutal mass migration.

NAMPA/AFP

Sierra Leone floods kill hundreds

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Sierra Leone floods kill hundreds Sierra Leone floods kill hundreds Mudslides sweep through capital Hundreds of people have been killed in a mudslide near Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. More than 300 people were killed and more than 2 000 left homeless on Monday when heavy flooding hit Sierra Leone's capital of Freetown, leaving excavators to pull bodies from rubble and overwhelming the city's morgues.

An AFP journalist saw several homes submerged in Regent village, a hilltop community, and corpses floating in the water in the Lumley West area of the city, as the president assured emergency services were doing all they could to tackle one of the worst natural disasters ever to hit the city.

Red Cross spokesman Patrick Massaquoi told AFP the death toll was 312 but could rise further as his team continued to survey disaster areas in Freetown and tally the number of dead.

Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, according to UN indicators.

"I counted over 300 bodies and more are coming," Mohamed Sinneh, a morgue technician at Freetown's Connaught Hospital, told AFP, having earlier described an "overwhelming number of dead" at the facility leaving no space to lay out every body.

Many more of the dead were taken to private morgues, Sinneh said.

President Ernest Bai Koroma said in an address to the nation broadcast on television late Monday that an emergency response centre had been established at Regent, the worst-affected area.

He appealed for unity from a nation still struggling with the legacy of Ebola and a long civil war.

"Our nation has once again been gripped by grief. Many of our compatriots have lost their lives, many more have been gravely injured and billions of Leones' worth of property destroyed in the flooding and landslides that swept across some parts of our city," he said.

"Every single family, every single ethnic group, every single region is either directly or indirectly affected by this disaster," Koroma said.

He announced that centres would be set up across the city to register those made homeless and praised the military, police and Red Cross volunteers, deployed in an all-out effort to locate those trapped.

Images obtained by AFP showed ferocious, churning dark-orange mud coursing down a steep street in the capital, while videos posted by local residents showed people waist- or chest-deep in water trying to cross the road.

The Sierra Leone meteorological department did not issue any warning ahead of the torrential rains to hasten evacuation from the disaster zones, AFP's correspondent based in Freetown said.

Fatmata Sesay, who lives on the hilltop area of Juba, said she, her three children and husband were awoken at 4:30 am by rain pounding on the mud house they occupy, which was by then submerged by water.

"I only managed to escape by climbing to the roof of the house when neighbours came in to rescue me," she said.

"We have lost everything and we do not have a place to sleep," she told AFP in tears.

Deputy Information Minister Cornelius Deveaux earlier confirmed Koroma had called a national emergency, and said his own boss, Information Minister Mohamed Bangura, was in hospital after being injured in the flooding.

Deveaux said "hundreds" of people had lost their lives and had properties damaged, and promised food and other assistance for the victims.

He called on the public to remain calm with rescue efforts underway.

The scale of the human cost of the floods only became clear on Monday afternoon, as images of battered corpses piled on top of each other circulated and residents spoke of their struggles to cope with the destruction and find their loved ones.

Meanwhile disaster management official Vandy Rogers said that "over 2 000 people are homeless," hinting at the huge humanitarian effort that will be required to deal with the fallout of the flooding in one of Africa's poorest nations.

Freetown, an overcrowded coastal city of 1.2 million, is hit each year by flooding during several months of rain that destroys makeshift settlements and raises the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera.

Sasha Ekanayake, Save the Children's Sierra Leone Country Director, said the immediate priority was to provide shelter and protect residents, especially children, from the spread of deadly waterborne diseases.

"We are still in the rainy season and must be prepared to respond in the event of further emergencies to come," she said in a statement.

Flooding in the capital in 2015 killed 10 people and left thousands homeless.

Sierra Leone was one of the west African nations hit by an outbreak of the Ebola virus in 2014 that left more than 4 000 people dead in the country, and it has struggled to revive its economy since the crisis.

About 60% of people in Sierra Leone live below the national poverty line, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The country ranked 179th out of 188 countries on the UNDP's 2016 Human Development Index, a basket of data combining life expectancy, education and income and other factors.

NAMPA/AFP

Shot of the day

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Shot of the dayShot of the day LITTLE SOLDIERS: Students of the Ivory Coast military academy march at the presidential palace in Abidjan on 7 August 2017, during celebrations marking the 57th anniversary of the country's independence from France. Photo: NAMPA/AFP
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