… ce.US Vice President JD Vance backed Israel in saying Lebanon was excluded from the truce, days before he was due to lead talks with Tehran in Pakistan. “If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart….over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, and which the United States …
… Italy narrowly missed bringing its deficit below the three percent target in 2025, with its deficit at 3.1 percent.Meloni’s government has temporarily cut fuel excise taxes in the face of rising energy prices following war between the United States and Israel, and Iran.But she sa …
… Iran subsequently reported suspending tanker traffic again after Israel launched strikes on Lebanon, with Tehran arguing that the attacks violated the ceasefire, while the United States (US) and Israel maintain that the agreement was never intended to cover Hezbollah in Lebanon. …
… This sharp decline follows news of a two-week ceasefire between the United States (US) and Iran, which raised hopes for reduced supply disruptions. …
… Emissions in the United States rose 2.4% last year, according to the Rhodium Group think tank, spurred by demand for heating and electricity in the world’s largest economy amid the AI boom. …
… This is a result of United States (US) president Donald Trump threatening to take out Iran “in one night” if it failed to agree to a deal with the US. …
… Marker first started working in Namibia in 1977, when she brought a cheetah born in captivity in the United States to Namibia and taught her how to hunt. …
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah congratulated former Cuban president Raúl Castro on his 95th birthday, paying tribute to his contributions to Cuba and acknowledging Cuba's historic support for Namibia's liberation struggle. The president reaffirmed the deep bonds of friendship and solidarity between Namibia and Cuba.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah congratulated former Cuban president Raúl Castro on his 95th birthday, paying tribute to his contributions to Cuba and acknowledging Cuba's historic support for Namibia's liberation struggle. The president reaffirmed the deep bonds of friendship and solidarity between Namibia and Cuba.
Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane scored as Germany defeated the United States 2-1 in Chicago on Saturday in both teams' final World Cup warm-up game before the tournament began. Despite the loss, the US mounted a promising performance with chances to equalize, including a notable strike by Antonee Robinson from outside the box.
Iran's World Cup team left Turkey for Mexico on Saturday ahead of the June 11 tournament start, days after the US refused to issue visas for some of the team's support staff. Iran's embassy said a "large" number of managerial and executive staff were denied visas and called for FIFA to hold the US accountable for what it termed discriminatory treatment.
Six teams from CONCACAF have secured places at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup: co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, plus Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama. The tournament will be held from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and be hosted by three countries.
De Beers Group has intensified efforts to boost demand for natural diamonds through a new phase of its global 'Desert Diamonds' marketing campaign, aiming to distinguish natural stones from synthetic alternatives and capitalize on growing consumer interest. Namibia produced 556,000 carats in the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, and diamonds remain critical to the country's economy.
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay have secured direct places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held jointly in Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and will feature an expanded 48-team format for the first time.
The US State Department is reportedly cutting visa-issuing consulates and embassies on the African continent, including Namibia's, according to the Associated Press. The closest remaining visa-processing hubs would be South Africa's consulates in Cape Town and Johannesburg, or Angola's Luanda consulate.
Angelique Peake, who leads RMB Namibia's oil and gas practice, said Namibia should leverage its extractive industry—oil, gas, uranium mining, and green hydrogen—to build an industrial hub and create skilled jobs over the coming decades.
Africa will be represented by ten nations at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, with nine countries securing direct qualification and one earning a place through intercontinental play-offs. The direct qualifiers include continental heavyweights Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and South Africa, alongside debutants Cape Verde and returning Congo DR.
Nine Asian Football Confederation teams have secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition to feature 48 teams and be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The qualifiers include established contenders Australia, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq, as well as debutants Jordan and Uzbekistan.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026. It marks the first World Cup hosted by three countries and the first with 48 teams, up from the previous 32-team format.
Deniz Undav scored twice and assisted another goal as Germany defeated Finland 4-0 in Mainz in their final home warm-up before the World Cup. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz also scored, with Undav substituted after sustaining an injury.
South Africa's national football team postponed their departure to a Mexico training camp after visa problems delayed some players and officials. The Sports Minister said all players had received visas, but the assistant coach, team doctor, head of security and one analyst were still awaiting clearance.
Japan defeated Iceland 1-0 in Tokyo on Sunday in their final warm-up before the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Coach Hajime Moriyasu said the win, secured by a substitute Koki Ogawa goal in the 87th minute, demonstrated that Japan can grind out victories at the tournament, despite a flat performance and Iceland's dangerous counter-attacking chances.
Mexico defeated Australia 1-0 in a friendly at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles on Saturday, with defender Johan Vasquez scoring from a corner in the first half. Mexico will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside the US and Canada.
Spain's World Cup campaign is shadowed by injury concerns, with star winger Lamine Yamal potentially missing the opening two matches against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia due to a hamstring injury, and key players including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri struggling with recent injuries. Coach Luis de la Fuente has nonetheless expressed confidence that Spain can win the tournament.
Mohamed Salah, 33, leads Egypt at what is likely his final World Cup, seeking a first tournament victory for the Pharaohs after three previous campaigns without a win. Salah recently ended his nine-year Liverpool career with 257 goals before joining Al-Ittihad.
Namibians have yet to experience a significant impact on basic food prices from the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, despite predictions of rapid food-price rises. Retail data from January to April shows maize meal prices decreased, sunflower cooking oil rose notably, and other staple items recorded mixed results.
Three-time runners-up the Netherlands enter the World Cup on a 14-match unbeaten run but are not considered among the leading contenders alongside Spain, France, Argentina and England. Coach Ronald Koeman returns to the United States with a well-balanced squad despite injury worries, while the Dutch face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F.
Sweden qualified for the World Cup through UEFA Nations League playoffs after a disastrous qualifying campaign that saw them finish bottom of their group with just two points from six matches. Under new coach Graham Potter, Sweden will face the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia in Group F, aiming to extend their run of reaching the knockout phase at each of the past four World Cups they qualified for.
The Okandjoze Chiefs' Assembly on Genocide has called on the Namibian government to adopt a "business unusual" approach to genocide apology and reparations, saying years of discussions have produced little action. The group urged the government to move away from symbolic discussions and engage descendants of Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama communities differently on restorative justice.
Lionel Messi was diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after leaving Inter Miami's match on Sunday, with no clear return date announced. The injury comes weeks before the World Cup, which kicks off June 11 with Argentina's first match scheduled five days later against Algeria.
A delegation of Namibian farmers, a journalist, and employees from Headspring Investments visited the Dalur in-situ uranium mine in Russia to learn about its operations and extraction methods. The mine uses in-situ leaching, which dissolves uranium underground and pumps it to the surface, avoiding open-pit mining, tunnelling, and tailings ponds.
An Iranian vice president has urged that striker Sardar Azmoun be reinstated to the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, after he was omitted from the initial squad. Azmoun, 31, recently posted on Instagram affirming his loyalty to Iran and rejecting allegations of treason.
At the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev posted a time of 20.81sec in the men's 50m freestyle, faster than the world record of 20.88sec, though the record is not official as the event permits performance-enhancing substances. The time earned him a $1 million bonus, though athletics governing bodies have refused to recognize records from the competition.
An opinion piece questions whether African leaders have acted as a unified front to address the continent's problems as envisioned by Ghana's founding president Kwame Nkrumah at the 1963 founding summit of the Organisation of African Unity, and examines whether Africa has gained true control of its mineral wealth or remains dependent on external powers.
An opinion piece by Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro endorses a "Namibians in Solidarity with the People of Cuba Campaign for Humanitarian Aid" launched by the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association, arguing that Namibians should provide moral and humanitarian support to Cuba given Cuba's role in Namibia's liberation struggle.
A Cape Fur Seal in South Africa was confirmed infected with avian influenza in early April, marking the first recorded case of bird flu in the species. Scientists now worry the virus could spread to Namibia's seal populations through seabirds and contaminated water, especially given that seals and seabirds travel long distances along the coast between the two countries.
Dinapama Managing Director David Namalenga has criticized Namibia's procurement practices for enriching importers at the expense of local manufacturers, arguing that tender policies should prioritize job creation and support for local businesses. He called for procurement reform to measure employment impact and warned that constant changes in tender allocation hinder company growth.
An animal auction at Oshaambelo Production Development Centre in Omusati sold 65 of 118 animals for N$373,150, with an auctioneer attributing low buyer participation to preference for informal trade. The ministry and livestock board support monthly auctions in the Northern Communal Areas to help farmers obtain fair prices through competition.