
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has paid tribute to former Botswana president Festus Mogae, who passed away on Friday at the age of 86. She described him as a distinguished statesman, committed pan-Africanist, and principled leader whose contributions to regional unity and development will be remembered across Africa. In a statement issued on Friday, Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted Mogae鈥檚 significant contributions to Botswana, the Southern African Development Community SADC region, and the African continent. She noted that during Mogae's presidency, Namibia was led by founding president Sam Nujoma and later by second president Hifikepunye Pohamba, a period during which the warm and historic ties between Namibia and Botswana flourished, strengthened by a shared vision for regional peace, stability, economic cooperation, and African unity. Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized Mogae鈥檚 key role in deepening the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two neighboring countries. She added that his calm leadership, wisdom, humility, and commitment to good governance earned him admiration beyond Botswana鈥檚 borders. The president recalled the spirit of solidarity and mutual respect that characterized relations between Namibia and Botswana during Mogae鈥檚 presidency, as both countries collaborated through SADC to advance regional integration, development, and prosperity. Nandi-Ndaitwah concluded by stating that Namibia stands in solidarity with the people of Botswana during this
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadLionel Messi became the leading scorer in World Cup history, netting two goals to secure Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria and advance the champions to the last 32. Messi scored late in the first half with a left-footed finish, bringing his total World Cup goals to a record 17. He sealed the match in second-half injury time. Despite missing an early penalty, Messi's performance was lauded by teammates and coaches, with striker Julian Alvarez calling him "the best in history." Austria's coach Ralf Rangnick also acknowledged Messi's unparalleled skill. The match, played in Texas, saw Argentina fans heavily outnumbering their Austrian counterparts. Messi had previously equaled Miroslav Klose鈥檚 record of 16 World Cup goals with a hat-trick in Argentina鈥檚 opening 3-0 win against Algeria. This marks Messi's sixth World Cup appearance, and he expressed happiness for the victory, noting its importance for the team's peace of mind.

Namibia Wildlife Resorts NWR is currently engaged in the rescue of 96 hikers, including schoolchildren, who became stranded in the Fish River Canyon since Sunday. The hikers, comprising nine different groups, were affected by rapidly rising water levels downstream after NamWater opened the sluice gates of the Naute Dam. Heavy rainfall in the Hardap and ||Kharas regions over the weekend caused the Naute Dam to reach 116.9% of its capacity, while the nearby Neckartal Dam also exceeded 105.7% and began spilling water into the canyon. As a result, the Fish River hiking trail has been temporarily closed. NamWater reported that the Naute Dam's level prompted the opening of one sluice gate, releasing water at 102 cubic metres per second. Commissioner Marius Katamila, the ||Kharas police regional commander, confirmed that members of the Special Reserve Force and a police helicopter are assisting with the rescue efforts from NWR's Hobas resort. Ten hikers managed to exit the canyon on their own on Sunday.
Must ReadJapan has provided Namibia with N$80 billion in development assistance over the past 20 years, encompassing technical aid, grants, and scholarships. I-Ben Nashandi, executive director of the National Planning Commission, highlighted that this support has benefited infrastructure planning, agricultural productivity, and community empowerment. Approximately N$47 billion of this total was in grants and development assistance, nearly equivalent to one year of Namibia's national budget. Japanese ambassador to Namibia Shinichi Asazuma noted that the Japan International Cooperation Agency's core programs include technical assistance, feasibility studies, and master plans. A significant contribution has been in logistics and transport, with Jica supporting the development of Namibia's logistics hub master plan for the port at Walvis Bay, implemented in 2016. This initiative aims to increase cargo throughput and is crucial for Namibia's emerging offshore oil and gas, critical minerals, and green hydrogen sectors. Additionally, the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers program has sent 177 Japanese volunteers to Namibia since 2006, working in education, civil engineering, and local administration, with 11 volunteers currently active in the country.