A young democracy☕ - Issue #5

Business

UNITED States first lady Jill Biden says Namibia is a young democracy, and the US supports democracy around the globe.

Biden arrived in Namibia on Wednesday for the first time for a visit said to be aimed at strengthening US partnerships on the African continent.During a luncheon at State House on Thursday, Biden said given the presence of hunger, violence, poverty and natural disasters, no one can heal the world on their own.“We can work against injustice together. We can be the hands of kindness. We can stand shoulder to shoulder and lift each other if we fall,” she said.Biden said Namibia is an example to the world.“I see how you are living here in Namibia with gender equality. Mr President, you and your government, which is full of strong women, are setting an example to the world.“You slow down the spread of HIV-AIDS and support the community so that that disease is no longer a death sentence through the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar).“And you are pushing the world forward in hydrogen and green energy to show us all that's possible,” Biden said.Also during the luncheon, Namibian first lady Monica Geingos said Namibia is a country of culture where people come together when it matters.“President Geingob always reminds us that Namibia is a friend to all and an enemy to none. Dr Biden, you are a friend,” she said.

Credit: The Namibian

Namra yet to release annual report, financial statements

It is reportedly taking longer to prepare, since it is the inaugural report, says the agency's spokesperson, Steven Ndorokaze.Namra was launched in April 2021 as an autonomous tax administration agency that will assist the government with the administration of taxes and the collection of tax revenue.Headed by Sam Shivute as the commissioner, Namra is expected to be an exemplary institution that will foster a fine balance between economic growth and trade functions, and provide tax services to all taxpayers, president Hage Geingob said during its launch.Ndorokaze says the annual report and the financial statements are set to be tabled at the agency's first-quarter board meeting, slated for next month.He says external auditors were appointed last August only.“As this is the inaugural report, several factors were at play, such as the ongoing staff recruitment and the procurement process for the external auditor,” he says.Namra has been making headlines lately on tax administration issues and uncovering tax fraud which has been running when tax was administered by the Ministry of Finance over the years.The minister has reportedly given the agency an extension on the submission of its annual report.

Credit: The Namibian

Villagers of Bukalo in the Katima Rural constituency can now register their vehicles using their own approved vehicle licence mark, which is N-BK.

This comes after the Roads Authority opened a NaTIS registering authority office on Thursday in the village, which is about 40 kilometers from Katima Mulilo.

Technology

Samsung targets satellite-enabled smartphone chips

Samsung on Thursday said it has developed a system that will allow smartphone users to send data via satellite, intensifying the race among tech companies to connect phones to non-terrestrial networks.

New modem technology from the South Korean consumer electronics giant will enable two-way messaging, as well as the sharing of images and videos. The data is sent to low-Earth orbit satellites in space and sent back to Earth-based stations before reaching end users.

Samsung hasn’t yet launched its satellite capabilities. However, the firm said it plans to include the technology in its Exynos mobile processors, hinting at a move to bring the system to its Galaxy smartphones.

Satellite phones are not yet a commercially mainstream technology. However, device makers are betting on the untapped opportunity of putting satellite phones in the hands of people in remote areas that fall outside the reach of terrestrial telecoms infrastructure.

Credit: CNBC/Ryan Browne

Mark Zuckerberg announces Meta’s new large language model as A.I. race heats up

has trained and will release a new large language model to researchers, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Friday.

The model, called LLaMA, is intended to help scientists and engineers explore applications for AI such as answering questions and summarizing documents.

Meta’s release of its new model, which was developed by its Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) team, comes as large tech companies and well-capitalized startups alike race to tout advances in artificial intelligence techniques and integrate the technology into commercial products.

Large language models underpin applications such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft Bing AI, and Google’s unreleased Bard.

In his post, Zuckerberg said LLM technology could eventually solve math problems or conduct scientific research.

“LLMs have shown a lot of promise in generating text, having conversations, summarizing written material, and more complicated tasks like solving math theorems or predicting protein structures,” Zuckerberg wrote on Friday.

Credit: CNBC

Personal Development

Tips on how to be a better student

1. Take care of your body so you are physically able to keep up with your school work. Avoid the temptation to stay up late socializing, instead giving yourself an early bedtime so you are rested. Power your studies with nutritious meals and snacks. Exercise to improve your health, reduce stress and focus your mind. Blow off steam in a positive way with relaxation techniques, deep breathing and sharing frustrations with friends.

2. Set goals and write them down so you see them everyday. Choose concrete goals that you can track, such as, "I will earn at least a B+ in calculus." Avoid general goals, such as, "I will do better in class." Give yourself specific ways to reach your goals, such as studying calculus at least three hours per week, attending all classes, finishing all assignments and meeting with the professor when you have difficulty with the material.

3. Get organized. It's hard to do well in school when you don't know where anything is and you are constantly losing things. Organize your files on your computer, your notebooks and other class items. Ideally, you will have a notebook for each class so that you have a place to put items for each course you are taking.

4. Create an area in your home for homework and studying. Choose a quiet, well-lit area without distractions, such as the television. Add a dry erase board or bulletin board to track important dates for assignments and projects.

5. Schedule time each day for studying and homework completion. Pick a time when you are awake and alert to maximize your time. Study consistently. If you wait until the last minute to cram for a test, your brain won't retain the knowledge. Give yourself breaks -- at least one per hour of studying -- to rest your brain and refocus your attention.

6. Prioritize your studies. This means skipping some social occasions when you need to study or missing a few episodes of your favorite television show. Effective students know when to say "no" to invitations or requests from peers.

7. Write lists each day to help you prioritize your work efforts. Review the projects, assignments and tests coming up in all of your classes. List the tasks in order of importance to keep you on track.

8. Sit near the front of the class so you can take better notes and keep your focus on the instruction. Sitting in the back provides too many opportunities for distraction. Use your front row seat to become an active participant in class by adding to discussions and asking questions.

9. Be on time to class, don't leave early, and don't skip classes. It sounds simple, but being in class is your best chance for understanding the material being taught.

Are You Doubting Your Leadership?

Doubt and failure are an unavoidable part of becoming a leader. Here's what to do if you're in need of a leadership comeback: Start by taking a brief step away from work to clear your head, and use this time to prioritize honest self-reflection. Take notes – or even record voice memos – on how you wish to improve as a leader, considering feedback you've gotten along the way. Keep in mind that ruminating on mistakes, missed opportunities, or external criticism will only hold you back. Next, honestly evaluate your fit within your organization's culture. Are your shortcomings as a leader the result of a mismatch? If so, recognize that you may need to adapt to the company's stated culture, goals and values. Then make a plan to boost your influence. Whose support can you enlist to grow? What do you need to set better goals and make better decisions for your team? Finally, consider whether a new opportunity would unlock your leadership potential. If, after reflection, it seems impossible to align with the demands of your role, and to have fun doing the job, it may be time to leave.

“Don’t try hard to fit in, and certainly don’t try so hard to be different...just try hard to be you.” —Zendaya