Day: September 13, 2024

Sofia: A Bulgarian military aircraft crashed on Friday, the country’s Defense Ministry said.

The L-39 ZA combat training aircraft crashed during the preparation for an airshow which was expected to be held on Saturday at the 3rd Aviation Base near the city of Plovdiv, the ministry said.

It said that measures had been taken to extinguish the fires caused by the incident. But it did not provide details about the incident, or whether there were casualties.

The airshow had been canceled, said the ministry. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Beijing: The Chinese government has pledged efforts to improve elderly care services following a decision to gradually raise the country’s statutory retirement age.

The function and structure of elderly care institutions will be optimized to expand affordable and accessible care, Tang Chengpei, deputy minister of civil affairs, said at a press conference on Friday.

Tang added that enterprises are encouraged to participate in providing elderly care services, highlighting the need to alleviate the burden of elderly care on families through various measures.

He also said that the Ministry of Civil Affairs will play an active part in building an elderly people-friendly society. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Manila: The Asian Development Bank on Friday launched a new country partnership strategy for Bhutan, aiming to help the South Asian country address economic obstacles and enable inclusive, sustainable, resilient and job-creating growth.

The bank said the five-year partnership strategy from 2024-2028 will reinforce the government’s development programs by strengthening public sector management and enabling private sector development, building climate adaptive and resilient infrastructure and systems, and supporting human capital development and the employability of Bhutanese youth.

According to the bank, Bhutan has made good progress in reducing poverty and improving its education and health indicators over the past two decades. In December 2023, it graduated out of least-developed country status.

To continue building on this progress, the bank said Bhutan needs to address the challenges of economic slowdown, a worsening macro-fiscal position, its narrow economic base, the absence of an enabling environment
for the private sector, vulnerability to climate change and disasters, and high levels of youth unemployment and out-migration. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

The body of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei who died after allegedly being set on fire by her ex-partner in neighbouring Kenya arrived in her rural hometown in eastern Uganda on Friday afternoon, a district official said.

The casket containing the remains of Cheptegei wrapped in Ugandan flag colors of black, yellow and red was received by family members, Uganda athletics federation and government officials at the Kenya – Uganda border town of Suam in a sombre mood, Gertrude Chemitai, Bukwo district information officer, told Xinhua by telephone.

She said Cheptegei’s body was driven around Bukwo town for the local people and population to celebrate her life.

According to reports, she was attacked by her former boyfriend in the Kenyan town of Trans Nzoia.

“The mood is very sad and grieving. The whole area is full of tears of the lost athlete,” said Chemitai.

Chemitai said Cheptegei will be laid to rest on Saturday at her ancestral village in Kapsiywo, Bukwo sub-county.

“Tomorrow [Saturday] she will be
taken to the district council hall for the councillors to pay last respect. Afterwards the body will be taken to Ananang playground for the funeral programme. She will then be taken to her final resting place at Kapsiywoo village for burial,” said Chemitai.

Cheptegei, 33, competed in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 44th. She is also remembered for winning gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Spain assured their place in the final phase of the Davis Cup after Carlos Alcaraz and Roberto Bautista won their singles matches against France in Valencia on Friday.

Alcaraz gave a solid display to assure Spain go into Sunday’s tie with Australia when he beat Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-3.

Humbert tried to be aggressive against the world No. 3, but in front of a home crowd, Alcaraz always looked to have his match under control.

Bautista got Spain off to a winning start, although the locally born player had to come back from a set down and a break down in the second set, before bearing Arthur Fils 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 in just under three hours.

After losing the first set, Bautista looked to be heading to defeat at 5-3 down in the second set, before producing consecutive service breaks to stay in the match and then go on to victory in the third.

The final phase of the Davis Cup will be held in the Spanish city of Malaga from November 19 to 24. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Kenya Police Football Club are plotting an upset of the ages when they host Egyptian giants and title-holders Zamalek in the final qualifying round for this season’s CAF Confederations Cup on Saturday.

First-timers Police are hoping to fashion a lead to take to Cairo for the second leg next weekend.

The winners will advance to the group stage proper which begins in October.

Police have been boosted by the arrival of former Kenya international striker Jesse Were, who has returned home after a nine-year stint in Zambia.

Head coach Anthony Kimani believes that his experience can be vital when they face the feared White Knights.

“Zamalek is a good team and we are well aware of the kind of team that we are playing against.

“They have their strong qualities, they have a good history in this competition but we also know they have a few weak points and we are looking to exploit those weak points to give us a good advantage in the first leg,” Kimani told reporters on Friday.

Two-time Confed Cup winners Zamalek
are back in Kenya for the first time since 2021 when they beat Tusker FC 1-0 in the CAF Champions League.

Police progressed to the second round of Africa’s second-tier club competition after edging out Ethiopia Coffee 1-0 on aggregate.

Kimani and his captain Musa Mohamed are calling for fans to turn out in large numbers for the match that will be played at Nyayo Stadium.

“We need fans, it’s good for them to come out and give us support because it’s all about the country, not about Kenya Police. Let them show up and support us because, without fans, we cannot do it,” Mohammed added.

The White Knights arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday to kick off their title defense after getting a bye in the first round. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency