🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Sabalenka eliminated from French Open by Shnaider, all-Italian men's semi-final set
via The Namibian3 min read
Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, was defeated by Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarter-finals, ending her bid for a maiden French Open title. Sabalenka lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, stating she "couldn't really recover after the second set" mentally. Shnaider will now face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the semi-finals. Chwalinska, ranked 114th, became only the second women's qualifier in the professional era to reach the Roland Garros last four, overcoming 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 7/3, 6-3. In the men's tournament, Flavio Cobolli secured an all-Italian semi-final by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Cobolli will play fellow first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi, who advanced after Matteo Berrettini retired due to a hip injury while Arnaldi was leading 7-5, 5-2.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Must ReadThe Namibian government has temporarily suspended old-age grants for 15,825 beneficiaries whose names could not be verified against the National Population Registry System. This decision was announced in a joint statement by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare and the Ministry of Finance. These suspended beneficiaries represent a portion of the 209,226 pensioners currently receiving old-age grants in Namibia. The ministries stated that this verification process is part of their efforts to maintain the accuracy of the social grants beneficiary list and aligns with verification measures used in social protection schemes. Affected beneficiaries are advised to visit their nearest regional gender ministry office or constituency office with their national identification document and birth certificate to have their grants reinstated in the next payment cycle. They will also receive back payments for the period their grants were suspended. The government assured that this measure is not intended to deprive deserving individuals of social protection, but rather to protect the integrity of the social grant system and ensure public funds reach their intended recipients.
Oceana Group has refuted reports claiming the closure of its Lucky Star cannery in South Africa, clarifying that operations have been temporarily consolidated due to fish supply shortages. The company issued a statement in response to reports suggesting that Lucky Star and Amawandle canning factories on South Africa’s West Coast would close by the end of June. Oceana stated that the headline was misleading and that operations from its Amawandle Pelagic facility at Laaiplek have been moved to its Lucky Star operations in St Helena Bay. This decision, according to Oceana, was made to protect jobs and ensure employees continue to earn an income. The company attributes the difficulties to the unavailability of fish, specifically noting that the full local South African pilchard quota has been caught, and it is struggling to source sufficient imported frozen fish. This clarification follows concerns from workers and trade unions regarding potential job losses. Oceana's procurement teams are actively working to secure enough frozen product for the next three to four months, and the consolidation will remain until sufficient fish stock is available.
Must ReadNamibia's new Dissolution of Marriages Act of 2024, effective today, abolishes the country's fault-based divorce system, replacing it with a no-fault framework based on the "irretrievable breakdown of marriage." Judge president Petrus Damaseb stated this reform is significant for Namibia's family law, shifting focus from moral blameworthiness to whether a marriage has disintegrated beyond restoration. Previously, spouses had to prove matrimonial offenses like adultery or cruelty. While misconduct such as adultery can still demonstrate irretrievable breakdown, it is no longer an independent legal ground for divorce. The new law introduces procedural changes, including joint divorces via applications and a strong emphasis on mediation, especially in cases involving children, maintenance, and asset division. Courts must ensure children's best interests are protected and can make "just and equitable redistribution orders" for assets, regardless of the marital property regime. However, a coalition of churches and civil society organizations is petitioning parliament to amend the act, expressing concerns that the no-fault system could increase divorce rates and weaken family structures by lowering the threshold for divorce and potentially normalizing it, arguing it may undermine the institution of marriage and deprive innocent spouses of recognition.
The Bank of Namibia acknowledges public concern over high banking fees and profits, stating that reducing these charges will be a gradual process. Central bank governor Ebson Uanguta informed a parliamentary standing committee that measures and regulations are being implemented to contain fees. Commercial banks collectively earned N$15.9 billion last year, with N$5.0 billion, or 31.3% of total income, derived from fees. Uanguta expects significant progress within three years and urged banks to be more transparent about their charges. The Banking Institutions Act 13 of 2023 and the Payment System Management Act 14 of 2023 empower the minister of finance to regulate banking fees. The central bank also conducts financial literacy campaigns as many customers do not fully understand loan agreements. A parliamentarian raised concerns about the ownership structure of commercial banks and their repatriation of profits, questioning their contribution to Namibia's developmental goals. Earlier this year, some banking fees were revised, including the removal of card-swiping charges.