The University of Namibia (UNAM) has been ranked 16th among the top 100 universities in Africa by the latest 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

In a media statement issued Friday, UNAM announced that the institution was ranked 16th among the Top 100 Universities in Africa by THE World University Rankings. The 13 indicators used by THE ranking to evaluate university performance include teaching, research, research impact, innovation, and an international outlook.

The US Ambassador to Namibia, Randy Berry has dismissed claims that the recent high-level visits by US officials are aimed at countering the growing influence of China and Russia on the African continent.

Of late, the African continent has seen high-level visits from the top echelons of the US government amid geo-political tensions between the US, China and Russia.

Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger where he announced USD150 million in direct assistance to Africa's Sahel region.

With a high unemployment rate and millions of people in poverty on the African continent, the industrial chain and enhancing the added value of African products is the main focus between China and Africa to tackle these economic challenges.

China managed to improve the lives of its people from poverty through carefully thought-out policy implementation. 

The ingredients are growth in agriculture productivity, progressive industrialization, management of urbanization as well as the expansion of infrastructure investment. 

Meteorological service practitioners from 11 African countries have gathered in Windhoek for training on the best information-sharing practices on weather matters.

The workshop, organized by the World Meteorological Organization, is training weather officers on the use of new technologies that help provide updated and accurate weather predictions around the world.

The new technology currently used around the world is used to counter the challenges posed by climate change, where existing old technology fails to ensure accurate weather predictions.

Namibia is the only African country that exports beef to China. nbc's Reporter Selima Henock engaged Namibia's Ambassador to China, Elia Kaiyamo, on this and some of his success stories since his posting.

The Trans-Kalahari-Mamuno Border Post is an important point of entry as it connects Namibia to other SADC countries and central Africa.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, says it's for this reason that Namibia and Botswana's Bi-national Commission agreed to urgently introduce a One-Stop-Border-Post.

A one-stop border post is a port-of-entry environment in which two governments decide to co-locate their port-of-entry operations at a common land border crossing.

International Relations and Cooperation's Deputy Minister Jennelly Matundu says Africans can promote intra-continental trade and ensure food security if they all work together.

During virtual panel discussion on Cultivating Strategic Diplomacy, Matundu says Africa can achieve a lot if all member state rectify the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

The University of Namibia (UNAM) is developing an artificial intelligence curriculum for Africa.

Pro-Vice Chancellor at the institution, Professor Anicia Peters, says UNAM will collaborate with Africa-based Google and Microsoft.

"This curriculum came about because we said if Africans and women want to be part of the creators of AI and we want to diminish the gender biases, the racial biases, and the stereotypes against Africans, then we have to get on that wagon and we have to start educating our learners and students just like you."

Climate change is threatening Africa's ecosystems and economies.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, says the situation is placing the African country's developmental gains, prosperity, and aspirations under the Africa Union Agenda 2063 in jeopardy.

He urged that all member states respond collectively and boldly to the challenges presented by climate change.

African governments have been urged to invest more in local farming communities in order to improve the agriculture sector.

The call was made by the Director of Business Development, Markets, and Trade in the Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development of Zimbabwe, Richard Kaitano.