static keyword useless in namespace scope?

Question

namespace N
{
   static int x = 5;
}

What could be the importance/use-cases of declaring having a static variable at namespace scope?

Answer 1

C++ Standard §7.3.1.1/2:

The use of the static keyword is deprecated when declaring objects in a namespace scope (see annex D); the unnamed-namespace provides a superior alternative.

Unless the unnamed namespace provides a superior alternative in the future Standard it will be undeprecated to achieve C compatibility.