Fire destroys 72 reed houses at Aussenkehr


Members of the Namibian Police Force ( NamPol ) at Aussenkehr are investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed about 72 reed houses on a grape farm . NamPol ’ s acting crime investigations coordinator for the || Kharas Region , Chief Inspector Jochobetha Angukku , in a crime report indicated that the fire broke out around 16h00 on Wednesday . “ It is alleged that a fire broke out at one of the reed houses . It spread to the nearby houses . The wind was blowing , which resulted in more houses catching fire . In total , 72 houses burned down ,” said the report . The victims lost documents , food , clothes , blankets and matrasses . The fire was extinguished by community members and police officers with water provided by the local grape companies . No serious injuries or fatalities were recorded . Police investigations continue

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Three arrested for alleged theft of cattle from employer


Three men have been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of cattle from a farm at Okatope village in the Oshikoto Region . According to the Namibian Police Force ’ s crime investigations coordinator for Oshikoto , Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo , the men stand accused of stealing two heads of cattle on Tuesday intending to sell them . The suspects , aged 36 , 37 and 28 , include two cattle herders employed by the complainant , while the third suspect is from a neighbouring farm . A case of stock theft has been opened against the suspects . “ It is alleged that the suspects removed the complainant ’ s cattle from the farm and took them to Omatope village in order to sell without the complainant ’ s consent . The complainant was informed by the police from Bravo Police Station after they became aware of the incident ,” Ekandjo said . The stolen cattle , two pregnant cows worth N . dollars 26 000 , were recovered . All suspects were arrested . They are expected to appear in the Tsumeb Magistrate ’ s
Court on Monday

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Latvia’s Incukalns facility to store gas reserves for Baltics, Finland


Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland will gain access to strategic gas reserves at Latvia’s Incukalns Underground Gas Storage (UGS) facility under amendments to the Energy Law, adopted by Latvia’s Saeima (parliament) on Thursday.

The Incukalns UGS, a key asset for regional gas supply stability, will no longer be subject to tariffs set by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) starting May 1, 2026. Instead, the system operator will oversee auctions for storage capacity and set service fees.

These amendments are expected to enhance cooperation within the Baltic region and Finland, supported by existing gas supply solidarity agreements. During the summer, natural gas could be pumped into storage to ensure adequate supply during the colder months across Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

2nd LD Writethru: ECB announces second interest rate cut of this year


The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday announced it would cut key interest rates again, marking its second rate reduction this year following a move in June, with no indication of the future rate path.

In a press release, the ECB announced that it has decided to reduce the deposit facility rate by 25 basis points to 3.5 percent due to declining inflation. This decision follows the bank’s June rate cut, which marked its first reduction in five years.

The market expects this move would further ease financing conditions for households and businesses in the eurozone.

“Based on the Governing Council’s updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission, it is now appropriate to take another step in moderating the degree of monetary policy restriction,” the bank said.

According to the spread established by the ECB between the three key interest rates, the rates for the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facili
ty will be reduced to 3.65 percent and 3.90 percent, respectively, following the cut to the deposit facility rate.

The latest staff projections released by the central bank maintain the inflation forecasts unchanged from its June estimates. The ECB staff anticipate that inflation will average 2.5 percent in 2024, 2.2 percent in 2025, and 1.9 percent in 2026.

The core inflation projections have been revised upward for both 2024 and 2025.

Projections for economic growth in the euro area have been revised downward compared to June. The ECB staff forecast that the economy will grow by 0.8 percent in 2024, 1.3 percent in 2025, and 1.5 percent in 2026.

The ECB reiterated its commitment to reducing inflation in the euro area in a timely manner, stating, “It will keep policy rates sufficiently restrictive for as long as necessary to achieve this aim.”

It marks the second time the ECB has cut key interest rates since June, when the rates were lowered by 25 basis points. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Arteta extends contract as Arsenal coach


Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has signed a contract extension, the club confirmed on Thursday.

Arteta has signed what Arsenal described as a “long-term” contract but it is thought to be until the end of June 2027. His previous contract was due to expire at the end of June 2025.

The 42-year-old former player, who spent five years at the club between 2011 and 2016, returned to Arsenal in 2019 after leaving his previous post as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Following a slow start, with two eighth-place finishes in the Premier League and fifth place in 2022, he has now cemented Arsenal as the main title challengers to City, with second-place finishes in the last two seasons and with last season’s title race only decided on the last day of the campaign.

“I feel extremely proud, very excited and am looking forward to what is coming next. I’m proud to be where I am and have the relationships that I have with everyone at the club,” Arteta said on the club website.

“I feel extremely lucky to work e
very single day with good people and the ambition we have here. I feel very inspired, I feel challenged, I feel supported and I want to do much more than what we’ve already done together,” he added, saying he was “looking forward to the coming years.”

Arsenal’s next game is a north London derby away to Tottenham on Sunday. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

2nd LD Writethru Xinhua Headlines: Xi urges breaking new ground in Yellow River basin ecological conservation, high quality development


Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for breaking new ground in the ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when he convened a meeting in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China’s Gansu Province.

Xi said efforts in this regard should be powered by further deepening reform comprehensively.

He called for promoting ecological protection across the entire river basin to a new level, achieving new progress in green transformation, and bringing new improvements to the lives of the people.

It is necessary to continuously improve the holistic framework of ecological protection and collaboration in the Yellow River basin to strengthen the national ecological security shields, Xi said.

Xi urged continuous efforts to intensify the battle against pollution, highlighting the management of important tributaries and key lakes
and reservoirs.

He stressed accelerating the upgrades toward ultra-low emissions in key sectors and vigorously promoting the clean and efficient use of coal.

Efforts should be made to implement fiscal, tax, investment and pricing policies and standards to support green and low-carbon development, he added.

Xi urged efforts to explore establishing a basin-wide, market-based and diversified compensation mechanism for ecological conservation.

The strictest system for the protection and utilization of water resources should be implemented, he noted.

Xi emphasized the need to improve the disaster prevention and reduction system. He said the water regulation system centered around major water conservancy projects such as key reservoirs should be improved.

He underscored efforts to ensure the safety of important embankments, reservoirs and other infrastructure projects.

Xi urged efforts to develop the green and low-carbon economy and accelerate the substitution of clean energy for fossil fuels in key industri
es.

Xi stressed the need to comprehensively deepen reform and expand opening up, calling on local areas to actively participate in the building of a unified national market and resolutely eliminate all forms of local protectionism.

Efforts should be made to deepen reform related to state assets and state-owned enterprises, and fully implement policies and measures to promote the development of the private economy, Xi stressed.

The country must coordinate the pursuits of new urbanization and rural revitalization, Xi said.

Employment needs to be placed in a prominent position, Xi said, adding that expanding employment capacity should be prioritized in urban industrial development and rural industrial cultivation.

Efforts should be made to protect and promote the Yellow River culture, strengthen the comprehensive and systemic protection of cultural and natural heritage, and further advance archaeological work, Xi stressed.

Party committees and governments of provinces and regions along the Yellow River mus
t take on the principal responsibilities, and people from all sectors of society should be motivated, Xi said.

He also urged ensuring sound economic work at the end of the third quarter and throughout the final quarter, and striving to meet the annual economic and social development targets.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, attended the meeting. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency