Roger Federer achieved tennis greatness with an intoxicating blend of athleticism, artistry and unflinching nerve. Yet for all his fluid genius, the measure of a career often boils down to cold numbers.
Seventeen grand slam singles titles, three more than any man who has played the game, have been won by the Swiss maestro.
But it is eight grand slam events and counting since the graceful sportsman, who ticked off major accomplishments like clockwork during his years of dominance, has won a grand slam.
At age 33, with the clock ticking down on an extraordinary career, the father of two sets of twins faces a golden opportunity to add to his majestic legacy at the US Open starting on Monday at the US National Tennis Center.
Federer is in form and his primary nemesis, 2013 US Open winner Rafa Nadal, has withdrawn due to a wrist injury, elevating the Swiss to second seed and ensuring he can only meet top seed Novak Djokovic should they both reach the final.
World number two Nadal, the Spaniard with 14 major titles of his own, has beaten Federer 23 times in 33 career meetings, and taken nine of their 11 career collisions in grand slams.
The other member of the ‘Big Four’ who have dominated men’s tennis the past decade, 2012 US Open winner and 2013 Wimbledon champion Andy Murray of Britain, is still struggling to regain top form after having back surgery, further suggesting a possible storybook run by Federer.
{{he bodies of 20 Malaysian victims of Flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine in July have arrived in Kuala Lumpur, as the nation holds a day of mourning.
A specially chartered plane took off from Amsterdam and landed around 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT).
National flags will be flying at half-mast across the country and a minute of silence will be observed.
Flight MH17 is believed to have been shot down by a missile fired by pro-Russian rebels. They deny the claim.
All 298 passengers and crew on board the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 died on 17 July.}}
A small contingent of Malaysian soldiers marched up to the plane to escort the coffins as they are being unloaded.
Meanwhile, large white funeral hearses lined up on the tarmac to receive the bodies.
All the coffins are draped in the national flag. Three of the 20 bodies have been cremated in the Netherlands.
The country’s public transportation, including the national rail system and Kuala Lumpur’s monorail, will also come to a standstill to observe two minutes of silence, said The New Straits Times.
Toll booths on highways will have electronic signs urging drivers to alight from their vehicles.
Both The New Straits Times and the Star newspapers have darkened their mastheads on their websites as a sign of respect.
A Malaysia Airlines spokesman said the company would organise a prayer session, which would be made open to the public to offer their respects and prayers.
{{Appearing thin but smiling, a Texas doctor who weeks ago entered an Atlanta hospital in a full-body biohazard suit to be treated for Ebola said on Thursday he was “thrilled to be alive” as doctors declared him virus-free and safe for release.}}
Dr. Kent Brantly’s release came two days after a second U.S. missionary, Nancy Writebol, was quietly allowed to leave Emory University Hospital, where both had been treated after contracting the deadly virus in July while working for Christian organizations in Liberia.
They were each cleared for discharge from the hospital’s isolation unit after their symptoms eased and blood and urine tests showed no evidence of the virus, a doctor who treated them said on Thursday.
The announcement of their release and expected full recovery from a disease that has killed 1,350 people in West Africa prompted an emotional scene in Atlanta. Hospital workers cheered, clapped and cried as a thin but steady Brantly entered a news conference holding his wife Amber’s hand.
“Today is a miraculous day,” said Brantly, a 33-year-old medical missionary for the Christian relief group Samaritan’s Purse. “I am thrilled to be alive, to be well and to be reunited with my family.”
Brantly thanked the health teams at Emory and in Liberia for their care “during the most difficult experience of my life,” recalling how he grew sicker each day before being evacuated to the United States earlier this month.
“I am forever thankful to God for sparing my life and am glad for any attention my sickness has attracted to the plight of West Africa in the midst of this epidemic,” he said.
Writebol did not attend. The 59-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, left the hospital on Tuesday and was resting in an undisclosed location with her husband, Christian mission group SIM USA said in a statement.
Kevin Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari, who were sent home from the World Cup in disgrace, have been dropped from the Ghana squad for next month’s African Nations Cup qualifiers.
Also out is Michael Essien, who made a rare public outburst after the tournament at his lack of playing time in Brazil and then quickly apologised, as well as midfielder Albert Adomah and goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey.
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah recalled Leicester City’s Jeffery Schlupp and David Accam, who plays in Sweden, after the pair were cut from the final squad for the World Cup finals.
The Blacks Stars play Uganda on Sept. 5 in Kumasi and away in neighbouring Togo five days later.
German-born Boateng was sent home ahead of Ghana’s last group game in Brazil against Portugal after allegedly swearing at Appiah, a charge he denied.
Muntari punched a GFA official in a heated argument over bonus payments.
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Esperance), Mohammed Awal (Maritzburg United), John Boye (Erciyesspor), Jonathan Mensah (Evian Thonon Gaillard FC), Daniel Opare (FC Porto), Baba Rahman (FC Augsburg), Jeffery Schlupp (Leicester City)
Midfielders: Afriyie Acquah (Parma), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese), Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus), Christian Atsu (Everton), Andre Ayew (Olympique de Marseille), Yusif Chibsah (Sassuolo), Edwin Gyimah (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar), Asante Solomon (TP Mazembe Englebert), Mubarak Wakaso (Rubin Kazan)
Forwards: David Accam (Helsingborg), Jordan Ayew (Lorient), Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain), Abdul Majeed Waris (Spartak Moscow).
South Sudan rebels have agreed to let Uganda maintain its forces on South Sudanese soil until a regional body deploys a peace keeping force, a spokesman for the Ugandan government told Reuters on Friday.
The new stance by the rebels, which is a 180-degree turn from their earlier position of demanding withdrawal of the troops from South Sudan, could open a way to mend ties between the insurgents and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
At least 10,000 people have been killed since fierce fighting erupted in December, pitting President Salva Kiir’s government forces against supporters of Riek Machar, his former deputy and longtime rival.
Since the conflict in Africa’s youngest nation erupted in mid December, the Ugandan leader has stood by the South Sudanese government, angering the rebels.
Peace initiatives by the regional group of nations, the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), have so far failed to end the conflict, fought along ethnic lines between Kiir’s Dinka community and Machar’s Nuer people.
Ofwono Opondo, the Ugandan government spokesman, said a rebel delegation in Uganda met a government team led by Salim Saleh, brother of President Museveni, who acts as his senior advisor on defence and security.
“We explained to them why we deployed in their country and they agreed that we can stay there until IGAD deploys,” Opondo said. “They also agreed that a military option can not bring lasting peace in South Sudan.”
Opondo said Ugandan officials explained to the visiting rebels that Uganda had not deployed its troops to take sides in the conflict, but rather it went “in to stop a genocide”.
Outgoing U.N. rights chief Navi Pillay rebuked the U.N. Security Council on Thursday for putting short-term geopolitical concerns and narrowly-defined national interests ahead of intolerable human suffering and grave breaches of global peace and security.
“I firmly believe that greater responsiveness by this council would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives,” Pillay told the 15-member body during her final briefing after six years as the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
She said crises in Syria, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Gaza, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Ukraine “hammer home” the international community’s failure to prevent conflict.
“None of these crises erupted without warning. They built up over years – and sometimes decades – of human rights grievances,” said Pillay, a South African jurist.
She suggested the Security Council come up with possible new responses to rights violations, such as deploying rapid, flexible and resource-efficient human rights monitoring missions that would be limited in time and scope.
Her successor, Jordan’s Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, who will start his four-year appointment next month, could also informally brief the Security Council once a month in a bid to strengthen early warnings of potential crises, she said.
Pillay also recommended building on the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, which aims to regulate the $85 billion arms industry and keep weapons out of the hands of rights abusers and criminals.
“States parties could agree that where there are concerns about human rights in states that purchase arms, one condition of sale would be that they accept a small human rights monitoring team,” she said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has nominated Major-General Philip Wachira Kameru to head the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi made the announcement during Thursday’s House sitting as he passed the message from the President.
Major-General Kameru will replace Major-General (Rtd) Michael Gichangi who resigned last week as the top spy chief on personal grounds.
President Kenyatta noted that Major-General Kameru has given distinguished service to the country over 36 years, during which he rose steadily through the ranks to Director of Military Intelligence of the Kenya Defence Forces in 2011.
His term of duty has been characterised by exemplary diligence, dedication, and leadership.
“Major-General Kameru is credited with the success of Kenya’s intelligence-gathering in Somalia, as part of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) – a deployment that seeks to restore peace and order to the country, as well as to secure our own borders and the region,” read a statement from State House.
A man known for his discipline and loyalty, Major-General Kameru is rated by the military as ‘an exemplary professional’.
“Our intelligence service must now meet both new and old challenges. Major-General Kameru has gathered extensive experience in operational and administrative matters. He has also undergone rigorous training both in Kenya and abroad,” President Kenyatta said of his nominee.
“His ability has been tested by long service, and his performance and conduct have been found excellent. His experience, learning and integrity show that he is fit to lead and strengthen Kenya’s intelligence-gathering effort.”
The NIS Director designate holds three Masters Degrees – MSc in Natural Resources Management; MA in International Studies; and MSc in Security Management.
The National Assembly Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs will vet the nominee within 14 days after it first meets after receiving the names of the nominee and present the report to Parliament.
The committee led by Tetu MP Ndungu Gethenji will make history as it considers the suitability of Major-General Kameru, because until the passage of the 2010 Constitution, past spy chiefs were always appointed by the President without going through ‘public scrutiny’.
The Speaker shall notify the President of the decision of the National Assembly.
Section 7 (6) of the National Intelligence Service Act says Director-General shall be deemed to have been approved if the National Assembly has neither approved nor rejected the nomination of the person upon the expiry of a period of 60 days from the date of the nomination.
A person is qualified for appointment as the Director-General if the they are a citizen of Kenya, holds a degree from a university recognized in Kenya; have knowledge and at least 15 years experience in intelligence or national security;
The nominee must have served in a senior management position in the service or public service for at least 10 years, and meets the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.
{{Uganda government has barred Senegal’s U-19 rugby national team from entering Uganda following the Ebola outbreak in the West Africa region.}}
Senegal was among three foreign teams to be hosted by Uganda in the Confederation of Africa Rugby (CAR)1B U-19 tournament at Kyadondo Rugby Club.
The other teams are Madagascar and Zambia.“We were informed by the Commissioner of Health Services Dr. Anthony Mbonye that a decision was taken in their meeting and we should pick the formal letter from the Commissioner for Disease Control,” URU Chief Executive Officer Ramsey Olinga confirmed the development.
Olinga added that they have also communicated to the International Rugby Board Manager for Africa about the move.
But he said they are yet to get a reply.Meanwhile, South Africa’s Cheetahs Rugby Club coach Naka Drotske conducted a training session for the national rugby team in Kampala on Tuesday.
He will recommend to his employers the type of technical assistance to be extended to Uganda.
{{Rwanda’s economy has recorded an impressive growth of 7.4% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 4.7% growth during the same period last year.}}
Presenting a statement on monetary policy and financial stability, at Serena Hotel Wednesday, the governor of National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa the GDP growth of the economy in the first quarter of 2014 had exceeded the target of 6%.
Rwangombwa noted that the recovery of the economy was much supported by increased financing to private sector.
The existing financial institutions have in the past months established branches across the country thus increasing access to finance. Umurenge SACCOs,mobile financial services, banking agents and more microfinance instutitions have been instrumental in widening access to finance.
On external trade performance, Rwanda’s trading with the East African region grew by 38.6% reaching $97.8M in the first half of 2014 compared to $70.7Million recorded in the first half of 2013.
Generally the total imports into the country increased by 13.0% while exports increased by 1.2% in value. This in effect widened the trade deficit by 17.4%.
The countrys formal exports were dominated by non-traditional exports and re-exports with a share of 50.8% in total exports compared to 49.2% for traditional exports.
Imports in the first half of 2014 recorded an increase of 13% and 0.9% in volume compared to the first half of 2013.
Mr Rwangombwa expressed confidence that the country’s good economic performance sent a signal that in the near future more bonds would be issued due to an increased confidence in the country’s economic stability.
