Carlos Alcaraz to miss French Open due to wrist injury
via The Namibian3 min read
Reigning two-time French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz announced on Friday that he will not participate in this year’s tournament as he recovers from a wrist injury. The Spanish player stated that the decision to end his clay season was made after receiving test results on his right wrist, which also rules him out of the Italian Open. Alcaraz sustained the injury during the first round of the Barcelona Open last week. He had previously withdrawn from the Madrid Masters on April 17. Alcaraz, ranked second in the world, expressed that this is a difficult time but believes he will emerge stronger. He and his team will monitor his recovery before deciding on his return. Jannik Sinner, who lost to Alcaraz in last year's French Open final, commented on the news, stating that it is sad for competitors but emphasized the importance of prioritizing health, especially for young players. Sinner hopes Alcaraz will be back for Wimbledon. This will be only the second Grand Slam Alcaraz has missed since his main draw debut at the 2021 Australian Open, having withdrawn from the 2023 Australian Open due to a hamstring injury.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
A delegation from the United States Naval Forces Africa visited Windhoek and Walvis Bay this week, meeting with Namibian government and defence officials. US Ambassador to Namibia John Giordano accompanied the delegation. The visit focused on shared maritime interests between Namibia and the US, particularly maritime security related to trade in the South Atlantic. US Naval Forces Africa commander George Wikoff stated that both nations have mutually beneficial opportunities to promote maritime security for trade in the South Atlantic. Ambassador Giordano emphasized that Namibia and the United States share economic interests as maritime nations, highlighting the importance of free and open sea lanes for commerce.
The Namibian government has committed N$137 million to construct 3,106 houses for low-income citizens. This initiative, funded by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development and implemented by the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia, aims to address the country’s housing backlog and improve living conditions. Special adviser to the minister Boniface Mutumba confirmed the project's scale. This housing effort comes despite a reduction in the ministry's budget for the 2026/27 financial year, which saw its allocation cut to N$1.95 billion from N$2.67 billion. Of this, N$587.9 million is designated for housing and urban development programs. The government is also focusing on declaring townships in informal settlements, servicing land, and completing stalled units under the Mass Housing Development Programme, which faced delays due to legal disputes since 2017. Efforts are also underway to formalize informal settlements in key urban centers like Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Rundu, Keetmanshoop, and Oshakati, among others. The strategy includes easing congestion, expanding access to serviced land, and partnering with community-based organizations. Additionally, the ministry is promoting alternative and sustainable building materials to reduce construction costs.
Inter Milan could secure the Serie A title this Sunday, leading reigning champions Napoli and second-placed AC Milan by 12 points with five matches remaining. Inter will know their title chances by Friday night, depending on Napoli's match against Cremonese. If Napoli fails to win, an Inter victory against Torino could clinch the Scudetto with four matches to spare. However, Inter would then await the outcome of AC Milan's game against Juventus, a match also vital for both teams' Champions League qualification hopes. Inter has shown strong form recently, scoring 12 goals in their last three matches, and needs only four points from their remaining fixtures to secure the title. AC Milan is in a position where they could inadvertently hand the title to their local rivals, though they are close to securing a Champions League spot. Juventus, currently fourth, faces a more precarious situation in their bid for Champions League qualification. Adrien Rabiot, the France midfielder, will be a key player for AC Milan against his former team Juventus, having contributed six goals and four assists in 25 league appearances.
The Namibia Airports Company is planning an expansion of Hosea Kutako International Airport, with preliminary cost estimates ranging from N$4 billion to N$5 billion. Chief executive Bisey Uirab stated that the project is currently in the study phase, with ongoing engagements to inform final investment decisions and timelines. The upgrade focuses on developing a new passenger terminal to accommodate increasing passenger volumes and strengthen the airport's role as Namibia's primary international gateway. The company aims to complete construction by 2030 due to projected capacity constraints at the existing terminal, which could become congested by 2029 or 2030. This project is part of broader efforts to enhance Namibia's aviation infrastructure to support tourism growth, regional connectivity, and business travel. As of February, Hosea Kutako International Airport handled 78.4% of total passenger movement, making it the dominant hub.