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03:54Last update on: 12 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Mon 12 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair? Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform. SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf
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NEWS - INTERNATIONAL
| 2013-08-09
More than Snowden dividing United States and Russia
N DIALOGUE ... Russian president Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Barack Obama in discussion during a previous meeting. in the latest disappointment russia’s embrace of a fugitive who leaked uS secrets pushed president Barack obama to cancel a one-on-one summit with russian president vladimir putin next month. – Nampa-AP
WASHINGTON – How do US leaders feel about Russia’s behaviour? Not angry, just very “disappointed”.
Over and again as they try to patch up troubled relations, Obama administration officials end up reaching for that word that doleful parents use to scold a wayward teenager.
The latest disappointment - Russia’s embrace of a fugitive who leaked US secrets - pushed President Barack Obama to cancel a one-on-one summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month.
Moscow’s willingness to harbour National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is an example of the kinds of “underlying challenges” that keep getting in the way of his efforts to ease tensions between the former Cold War rivals, Obama says.
Some of the other issues frustrating US-Russian relations:
Syria
The two nations are at odds over the civil war. Russia has shielded Syrian President Bashar Assad from international sanctions and provided him weapons, despite an international outcry.
The US says Russia’s support is allowing Assad to cling to power despite more than two years of violence which, according to United Nations estimates, already has killed 100 000 of his people.
The US and Russia have agreed on the need for talks between Assad and the rebels in hopes of ending the war, and Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have launched a joint initiative to try to get both sides to the negotiating table. The US would like to see Russia do more to force Assad’s hand. Kerry and Lavrov are to meet today in Washington.
Missile defence
Russians have a long-standing problem with the US missile defence system planned for Europe, dating back to the Reagan administration’s disputes with the Soviet Union. The Russians see the system as a threat to the viability of their own nuclear arsenal as a deterrent. American officials have always maintained that the missile defences are meant to protect Nato allies and counter any threat from Iran.
Obama was denounced by Republican critics when in March 2012 he was caught, unaware that he was speaking into an open microphone, assuring Russia’s then-president Dmitry Medvedev that he would have more flexibility on the issue once re-elected. Russia complains there’s been little sign of movement on missile defence since Election Day.
Human rights
Americans object to the way Russian leaders have tried to silence critical voices.
The White House said it was “deeply disappointed and concerned” when opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to five years in prison on embezzlement charges last month. A colourful blogger turned protest leader, Navalny challenged the Kremlin by exposing corruption, mocking Russian leaders and running for mayor of Moscow.
In April, the US imposed financial sanctions on 18 Russians over human rights violations. The sanctions were sparked by the death in prison of a Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, who had accused police and officials of stealing US$230m in tax rebates. Officials accused of profiting from the scheme or persecuting Magnitsky were hit with sanctions.
US leaders joined musicians and free speech advocates around the globe in denouncing the imprisonment last year of members of the punk rock band Pussy Riot. The three women were convicted of hooliganism after staging an anti-Putin protest inside a Russian Orthodox Church.
Putin bristles at the US criticism.
Adoption
Putin signed a law last year banning US adoptions of Russian children. The move was viewed within the US as retaliation for the Magnitsky law that set in motion human rights sanctions against Russian officials.
Civil society
After returning to the presidency last year, Putin has waged a campaign of harassment and intimidation against civil society groups, the non-governmental organisations that take up causes such as protecting human rights, helping immigrants, defending voters’ rights or promoting environmental protection.
Russia also expelled the US Agency for International Development (USAid), which had promoted democracy and civil societies in Russia for two decades.
The Kremlin accused USAid of using its US$50 million annual budget to influence Russian politics and elections and weaken Putin’s hold on power.
Gay rights
Violence against gays long has been a problem in Russia. Now the US is criticising Russia for an official crackdown on gay rights.
A new Russian law imposes fines and up to 15 days in prison for people accused of spreading “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” to minors. The law covers views expressed online or in the news media. And it bans gay pride rallies.
Russian officials say the law will be enforced during the 2014 Olympics in the city of Sochi.
Asked about that on Tuesday on The Tonight Show, Obama said he has “no patience” for countries that intimidate or harm people because of their sexual orientation. - Nampa-AP
The latest disappointment - Russia’s embrace of a fugitive who leaked US secrets - pushed President Barack Obama to cancel a one-on-one summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month.
Moscow’s willingness to harbour National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is an example of the kinds of “underlying challenges” that keep getting in the way of his efforts to ease tensions between the former Cold War rivals, Obama says.
Some of the other issues frustrating US-Russian relations:
Syria
The two nations are at odds over the civil war. Russia has shielded Syrian President Bashar Assad from international sanctions and provided him weapons, despite an international outcry.
The US says Russia’s support is allowing Assad to cling to power despite more than two years of violence which, according to United Nations estimates, already has killed 100 000 of his people.
The US and Russia have agreed on the need for talks between Assad and the rebels in hopes of ending the war, and Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have launched a joint initiative to try to get both sides to the negotiating table. The US would like to see Russia do more to force Assad’s hand. Kerry and Lavrov are to meet today in Washington.
Missile defence
Russians have a long-standing problem with the US missile defence system planned for Europe, dating back to the Reagan administration’s disputes with the Soviet Union. The Russians see the system as a threat to the viability of their own nuclear arsenal as a deterrent. American officials have always maintained that the missile defences are meant to protect Nato allies and counter any threat from Iran.
Obama was denounced by Republican critics when in March 2012 he was caught, unaware that he was speaking into an open microphone, assuring Russia’s then-president Dmitry Medvedev that he would have more flexibility on the issue once re-elected. Russia complains there’s been little sign of movement on missile defence since Election Day.
Human rights
Americans object to the way Russian leaders have tried to silence critical voices.
The White House said it was “deeply disappointed and concerned” when opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to five years in prison on embezzlement charges last month. A colourful blogger turned protest leader, Navalny challenged the Kremlin by exposing corruption, mocking Russian leaders and running for mayor of Moscow.
In April, the US imposed financial sanctions on 18 Russians over human rights violations. The sanctions were sparked by the death in prison of a Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, who had accused police and officials of stealing US$230m in tax rebates. Officials accused of profiting from the scheme or persecuting Magnitsky were hit with sanctions.
US leaders joined musicians and free speech advocates around the globe in denouncing the imprisonment last year of members of the punk rock band Pussy Riot. The three women were convicted of hooliganism after staging an anti-Putin protest inside a Russian Orthodox Church.
Putin bristles at the US criticism.
Adoption
Putin signed a law last year banning US adoptions of Russian children. The move was viewed within the US as retaliation for the Magnitsky law that set in motion human rights sanctions against Russian officials.
Civil society
After returning to the presidency last year, Putin has waged a campaign of harassment and intimidation against civil society groups, the non-governmental organisations that take up causes such as protecting human rights, helping immigrants, defending voters’ rights or promoting environmental protection.
Russia also expelled the US Agency for International Development (USAid), which had promoted democracy and civil societies in Russia for two decades.
The Kremlin accused USAid of using its US$50 million annual budget to influence Russian politics and elections and weaken Putin’s hold on power.
Gay rights
Violence against gays long has been a problem in Russia. Now the US is criticising Russia for an official crackdown on gay rights.
A new Russian law imposes fines and up to 15 days in prison for people accused of spreading “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” to minors. The law covers views expressed online or in the news media. And it bans gay pride rallies.
Russian officials say the law will be enforced during the 2014 Olympics in the city of Sochi.
Asked about that on Tuesday on The Tonight Show, Obama said he has “no patience” for countries that intimidate or harm people because of their sexual orientation. - Nampa-AP
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