The European Union and South Africa struck a deal to cut tariffs on auto exports after ministerial talks in Brussels. EU import tariffs on South African cars coming into Europe will be cut to zero by 2010, from a current rate of 6.5%. Levies on European cars sold to South Africa will be slashed from 25 to 18%. South Africa’s deputy trade minister Rob Davies said the deal was good news for his country’s auto industry, which had stood to lose out because existing beneficial tariff terms were being phased out. Our automobile industry would have lost out quite considerably and that no longer will happen," he said.

Any woman or girl in Namibia that wants to get something off her chest with regard to social issues can do this next week via the internet. Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) and the Namibia National Preparatory Committee, the American Cultural Centre, Schoolnet and the Embassy of Finland are behind a cyber dialogue project to make Namibians join the "16 Days of Activism" throughout Southern Africa starting on 25 November. This year Namibians will be joining the Internet in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. During the 16 days of campaign, cyber dialogue is brought to rural women in all thirteen regions of Namibia.

For the first time in the history of Namibia, cyber dialogue is introduced to communities as a tool to communicate their views through the Internet. Some communities will be trained how to make use of chat rooms from November 25 until December 10, 2005. Women and girls can send comments via the website from their own computers or Internet cafés and schools. The website can be found at www.genderlinks.org.za.

Bank Windhoek launched its new, low-cost banking product, called EasySave this week. In an effort to meet the needs of Namibians that are first-time bankers and lower income earners, Bank Windhoek provides an affordable and easy-to-use banking product. It is aimed particularly at the so-called ‘unbanked’ citizens They are Namibians who for years have been excluded from the formal banking sector for various reasons including affordability and access. No payslip is required when opening an account, no deposit fees are charged and low withdrawal fees apply when such an account is opened. The bank requires a minimum balance of only N$20; charges a monthly service fee of only N$2 per month and the account also offers clients free Life Cover worth N$2,500. Clients will earn interest rates of 1% and 4%, depending on the amount in the account. "These rates are comparable to the best offered currently in the market. It will really assist Namibians to save and manage their funds effectively," MD James Hill explained. Until the end of February 2006 Bank Windhoek will give away a cash prize worth N$5,000 to EasySave clients every month.