Namibia

Approximately 400 timber planks were confiscated in the Kavango West region in August according to Kavango West police regional commander Julia Sakuwa-Neo, who said planks were seized after establishing that no permits or authorisation was granted

TRUSTCO Group Holdings - an investing, banking and insurance group - has surrendered its banking licence to the Bank of Namibia and stopped its banking operations

After waiting for more than three years for their redundancy payments following the liquidation of the national airline, Air Namibia, the former employees will receive the payments following a High Court decision

70% coverage for cervical cancer screening by 2030 has been set as goal by the Ministry of Health and Social Services

Changes to visa requirements for entering Namibia have been announced and will apply as of 1 April 2025; new rules are expected to streamline the entry process and improve security measures for international visitors

The Namibia Agronomic Board initiated awareness-raising sessions to promote investment in the fruit sector, with a focus on production and export by local farmers

A new bill to regulate the celebration of marriages and to address the validation and recognition of certain marriages has been presented by the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Security and Protection

A court has declared unconstitutional a law dating back to colonial times that criminalised same-sex relations between men; the Namibian government has 21 days to appeal the ruling but it is currently unclear whether it will do so

The importance of safeguarding the country's ocean resources, given that they contribute at least 10 billion Namibian dollars (about US$528 million) annually to the country's economy, was emphasised by President Mbumba calling for urgent action

The Tobacco Act will be amended to include rules on nicotine products used for vaping, according to plans by the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services

An ambitious project will use African bees to produce beer in the future, thanks to a partnership between Cardiff University and University of Namibia, Windhoek, after the presence of brewer's yeast was discovered in gut microbiome of Namibian killer bees

The country called for greater international cooperation and partnerships to tackle illicit financial flows during the launch of a new initiative to strengthen financial integrity and support sustainable development

Namibia has become the first country on the continent to significantly reduce vertical mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and viral hepatitis B, a major milestone in the fight against the spread of HIV