Insatiable Djokovic Ready For Ultimate Showdown With Alcaraz

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July 16, 2023

(Reuters) – Novak Djokovic likes nothing better than munching on Wimbledon’s Centre Court turf on men’s final day and after setting up what he billed as the “ultimate showdown” with Carlos Alcaraz, he now wants to gobble up a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

“He’s very motivated. He’s young. He’s hungry. I’m hungry, too, so let’s have a feast,” joked the Serbian who has bent down to eat a handful of grass from the most famous tennis arena after each one of his seven Wimbledon triumphs.

Djokovic has made no secret of his insatiable appetite to hoard more and more records as he looks to leave every rival, especially those whose names crop up in the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate, in his shade.

For the first time in his career, Djokovic stands alone on top of the men’s Grand Slam totem pole after he won the French Open last month to secure a 23rd major — moving ahead of his great rival Rafael Nadal on the all-time winners’ list.

But that achievement has only fuelled the 36-year-old’s burning desire.

Considering he honed his skills in a drained swimming pool converted into a makeshift tennis court while NATO was bombing Belgrade in 1999, it is not difficult to understand why winning the biggest prizes in tennis means so much to him.

“Maybe some people think that it would be a huge relief for me winning Roland Garros, being the only men’s tennis player with 23 slams. It’s not,” Djokovic, who turned up for his news-conference wearing a forest green sweatshirt, baseball cap and watch, said ahead of contesting a record 35th major final.

“It’s no secret that Grand Slams are the highest priority for me, the highest goals on my priority list. Every time I start the season, I want to peak at these four tournaments.

“I feel that the job is not finished until I lift the trophy.”

UK Immigration Fee Hikes Face Criticism

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John Mutiso

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July 16, 2023

The UK’s oldest medical union on Saturday hit out at government plans to increase the amount migrant workers pay to use the state healthcare service, to cover public-sector wage increases.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government this week approved recommendations to boost wages of teachers, doctors and police by between 5.0 to 7.0 percent.

Sunak ruled out tax increases or government borrowing to fund the rise but instead said hikes in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and visa fees would raise £1 billion.

Doctors in Unite, which represents junior doctors, general practitioners and hospital consultants, said it was “appalled” at the move, as it would see migrants pay double to use the NHS.

Most employees in the UK have National Insurance contributions deducted at source on their salaries, which pays for the National Health Service, as well as state pension and unemployment schemes.

“Just like other workers, migrants contribute to NHS funding through general taxation. Doubling the NHS surcharge to over £1,200 ($1,570) per year is an unjust additional penalty,” Doctors in Unite said.

“Migrants are effectively ‘taxed twice’ to access the same service,” it added, calling the move “immoral and divisive”.

The IHS, initially brought in to prevent “medical tourism”, is now paid by most migrants under tighter post-Brexit entry rules.

It is paid per person in addition to visa fees for stays of more than six months.

Over-18s pay £624 per year while students and under-18s pay £470 per year.

The government has proposed raising the IHS for adults to £1,035, and £776 at the reduced rate.

Work and visit visas will go up by 15 percent, while the cost of student and leave-to-remain visas among others will rise by at least 20 percent.

Net migration in the UK hit a record 606,000 in 2022, according to official figures released in May, heaping pressure on the government, which has pledged to cut dependency on foreign labour.

Sunak has described legal immigration levels as “too high”, and is separately battling record levels of asylum claims from migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

Critics warn the IHS increases — paid for by individuals or their companies — could worsen under-staffing in many sectors, and prompt high-skilled workers and students to go elsewhere.

Migrant and refugee charity Praxis has accused ministers of treating people born outside the UK as “cash cows” at a time when they were struggling to repay already high visa renewal fees.

Genomics research centre The Wellcome Sanger Institute said it spent more than £300,000 in immigration fees for its employees in 2022.

“These proposed increases create further barriers for global talent… and will have a detrimental effect on UK and global science,” said head of policy Sarion Bowers.

3 Vandalised Nairobi Expressway Toll Stations Resumes Operations

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John Mutiso

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July 16, 2023

The Nairobi Expressway has resumed operations at the Mlolongo, Syokimau and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Toll Stations even as restoration works go on vandalism during last Wednesday’s demonstrations.

A statement from Moja Expressway Limited further urged motorists to drive carefully, saying there were some restoration works still ongoing in select locations.

“Moja Expressway Company is glad to inform you that operations have resumed at Mlolongo, Syokimau and SGR Toll Stations as from 10:00 am.

“For your safety, we urge all motorists using the Nairobi Expressway to be mindful of the ongoing restoration works at selected locations and drive within the prescribed speed limit of 80 km/hr,” the statement read.

Demonstrators blocked the main Mombasa Road Wednesday and vandalised metal grills separating the Expressway.

Motorists had to make quick u-turns on both sides after protesters started stoning them damaging several cars.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that the damages incurred at the expressway could be over $5 million (Ksh706.7 million).

Speaking when he inspected the section of the multi-billion road affected on Thursday, Murkomen noted that three railway stations and other key infrastructures were also destroyed and looted by protesters.

“There are 3 railway stations that were damaged during yesterday’s demos. We witnessed pre-planned attacks on key infrastructure. They came with equipment to cut copper wires. They targeted materials that they could sell,” Murkomen revealed.

“The damage could be over $5 million on the expressway not adding the damage to the railway stations.”

8 Students Arrested For Attempting To Burn Down School Dormitory

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John Mutiso

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July 16, 2023

Eight boys from Bishop Atundo Boys High School in Kimaeti, Bungoma County, have been detained for attempting to set fire to the school dormitory.

According to a report to the police, the school’s principal, Francis Nasila, said that the eight suspects planned the felony on Friday night.

Officers from Myanga police station and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) investigated the school and discovered the dormitory was splattered with petrol.

A two-liter empty plastic bottle smelling of petrol and a matchbox were discovered in the dormitory.

The eight suspects will be arraigned in court on Monday.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi Signs Deal With Inter Miami Until 2025

By

John Mutiso

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July 16, 2023

Argentina forward Lionel Messi has signed for American MLS side Inter Miami on a deal that runs until 2025.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, 36, left French champions Paris St-Germain at the end of the 2022-23 season.

“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” said Messi, who led his country as they won the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said the signing was a “dream come true”.

Messi, who has not previously played for a club side outside Europe, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project.

“The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”

On securing the services of a player expected to win another Ballon d’Or this year, Beckham said: “10 years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamed of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city.

“[I wanted] players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy, to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.

“Today that dream came true. I couldn’t be prouder that a player of Leo’s calibre is joining our club, but I am also delighted to welcome a good friend, an amazing person and his beautiful family to join our Inter Miami community.

“The next phase of our adventure starts her, and I can’t wait to see Leo take to the pitch.”

Messi will be available to play for Miami against LIGA MX side Cruz Azul on 21 July in their opening match of Leagues Cup.

“We are overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our league and our sport in North America,” said MLS commissioner Don Garber.

“We have no doubt that Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a league of choice for the best players in the game. We look forward to seeing his debut for Inter Miami in our Leagues Cup tournament later this month.”

Messi won the last of his seven Ballon d’Or awards for the world’s best player in 2021 and could win it again later this year after leading Argentina to World Cup success in Qatar in 2022.

He scored 32 goals in 75 games for PSG and ended last season with 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1.

Messi joined the French side in 2021 after spending 21 years with Barcelona.

Messi is Barca’s record scorer with 672 goals and won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Spanish Cups.

Elon Musk Says Twitter’s Ad Revenue Is Down 50% And Cash Flow Is Negative

By

John Mutiso

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July 16, 2023

Elon Musk disclosed on Twitter Saturday that, due to a 50% drop in advertising revenue and a “heavy debt load,” the platform still has a negative cash flow.

The billionaire owner tweeted Saturday, in response to business advice from a follower, “Need to reach positive cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else.”

The tweet is in stark contrast to his tone in April, when Musk told the BBC the platform is now “roughly breaking even” and that most of its advertisers have returned.

Ad revenue has been a contentious issue and an uphill battle for the site, after hordes of advertisers fled after Musk took over. Advertisers were concerned about content moderation, mass layoffs and general uncertainty about Twitter’s future.

Linda Yaccarino, a former NBCUniversal marketing executive, recently took over the CEO position from Musk – he’s likely betting on her advertising experience to bring them back.

The New York Times reported that Twitter’s US advertising revenue from the five weeks from April 1 to the first week of May was down 59% year-over-year, citing an internal presentation. (CNN has not viewed the presentation.)

Just 43% of Twitter’s top 1,000 advertisers as of September, the month before Musk’s takeover, were still advertising on the platform as of April, according to data provided to CNN by market intelligence firm Sensor Tower last month.

“It’s definitely been extremely difficult,” Musk said in Twitter Spaces livestream event Musk hosted with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr last month. “Basically, our revenue is cut in half because we didn’t toe the line.” He added it’s been a “huge struggle for Twitter to break even.”

And, after its rival app, Meta’s Threads, surpassed 100 million downloads less than a week after it launched, Twitter is under increased pressure.

Musk has added a variety of cost-cutting or cash-seeking measures to the site, from giving blue checkmarks with a Twitter Blue membership to putting Tweetdeck behind a paywall.

On Thursday, Twitter announced content creators would be able to get a slice of the site’s ad revenue, seemingly to encourage more creators to join the site. To be eligible, the creators must have Twitter Blue and have at least 5 million impressions on their posts in each of the last three months.

Among the creators who now get monetized off Twitter: Andrew Tate, the self-proclaimed “misogynist” online influencer, who was indicted in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and setting up a criminal gang.

CNN did not receive comment from Twitter.

Raila: Killer OSU Squad Sent To Kill Me, Maandamano Protesters

By

Dan Ojumah

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July 16, 2023

Raila Odinga has accused President William Ruto’s government of deploying a “trained killer squad” to target demonstrators and coalition leaders.

Odinga stated that the dissolved Operation Support Unit (OSU) had been resurrected and assigned to injured demonstrators during anti-government demonstrations.

He mentioned previous events on July 12, during which OSU was identified as a hotspot in which a couple of people were killed.

Odinga alleged that President Ruto is banking on OSU, referring to the ‘kusafirisha’ Azimio leaders.

“Police killings during protests have happened in the past, but this time, Kenya Kwanza has embedded a trained killer squad in the name of Operation Support Unit into official security agencies and unleashed it on Kenyans.”

OSU was disbanded a few years ago and its members were sent home.

Odinga emphasized that the liberation struggle from “politics of deceit, corruption, dictatorship, and arrogance” shall not dwindle and they will not relent.

Odinga also condoled the families of those who lost their lives during the protests, honoring them as ‘martyrs of our liberation.’

South Korea Rescuers Recover Seven Bodies In Flooded Tunnel

By

Dan Ojumah

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July 16, 2023

Rescuers in South Korea working to reach cars trapped in a flooded tunnel have recovered at least seven bodies.

Torrential rains have caused flooding, landslides, and power cuts across much of the country.

At least 26 other people are known to have been killed, while ten remain missing.

It is unclear how many people are still trapped in the tunnel – which is 685 metres long – but 15 vehicles are thought to be submerged.

Officials said the tunnel in Osong – near the city of Cheongju in the central North Chungcheong province – was swamped by a flash flood, which happened too quickly for drivers and passengers to escape after a nearby river burst its banks.

On Sunday morning, six bodies were recovered from inside a bus. That followed the discovery of one other body and the rescue of nine survivors on Saturday.

Local media reported that the latest deaths brought the overall toll from the floods to at least 33.

Most of the other fatalities have been in the mountainous North Gyeongsang region, where landslides have swept away whole houses.

Almost 300mm (11.8in) of rain is reported to have fallen across South Korea on Saturday.

The country typically sees 1,000mm (39.4in) to 1,800mm (70.9in) a year, according to the Korean Meteorological Association – although much of that does fall during the summer months.

Aerial pictures from flood-affected areas show brown mud and flood waters so deep, only the tops of roofs can been seen sticking out.

Thousands of people have been affected by evacuation orders issued by various local governments and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has asked the military to help with the rescue efforts.

Early on Saturday morning local time, some 6,400 residents were evacuated after the Goesan Dam, also in North Chungcheong, began to overflow, the agency said.

A number of low-lying villages near the dam as well as many of the roads connecting them were submerged, leaving some residents trapped in their homes.

Late on Friday, a landslide caused a train to derail in North Chungcheong. One engineer was injured, but the train was not carrying passengers at the time.

Korail, the country’s national rail operator, has announced the suspension of all slow trains and some bullet trains, and said other bullet services would be disrupted.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more rainfall through to Wednesday next week. It warned that the weather conditions pose a “grave” danger.

Extreme rain has caused floods and landslides across several countries – including India, China and Japan – over the past fortnight.

President Ruto Hosts African Presidents In Nairobi

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Dan Ojumah

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July 16, 2023

President William Ruto will attend the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5th MYCM) of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Mechanisms on Sunday.

The summit will take place at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi.

The summit will be held under the AU theme of “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation” for the year 2023.

On Saturday night, at least ten African presidents landed in the country.

Comoros President Azzali Assoumani, Ali Bongo (Gabon), Abdel Fattah (Egypt), Macky Sall (Senegal), Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Nigeria) were all received by the Head of State.

Zachariah Njeru, Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, was at the JKIA to greet and welcome Libyan Presidential Council Head Mohamed al-Menfi.

Presidents of Gabon, Egypt, Comoros, Botswana, Senegal, Chad, Burundi (also the Chairperson of the East African Community), Algeria, DRC, and Djibouti are among those attending the meeting.

The African Union says the event will examine the progress of continental integration and coordinate efforts to speed the integration process.

Coordination of the implementation of a defined division of labor and successful collaboration, as well as identifying areas of cooperation and building channels for regional, continental, and global cooperation in each sector or subsector, are other duties.

MP Elachi Defends Police Officers Captured In Viral Video Taking Gas Cylinders

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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July 15, 2023

North Dagoreti member of Parliament Beatrice Elachi, has come out to deny claims that the police officers seen in a viral video loading petrol cylinders into their vehicle during Wednesday’s protests were looters.

Elachi clarified that she was aware that the officers were only carrying the cylinders to protect them from looters during the demonstrations, not stealing them as many netizens had claimed.

She claimed that once the protests were over, the officers returned the gas cylinders to their rightful owners.

“The police picked the cylinders and put them in their car and were going to safeguard it and bring it back to the owner,” Elachi said in an interview with K24.

Despite the lawmaker acknowledging that some officers may be guilty of such crimes, she confidently allayed fears and the suspicions of the officers looting.

“I am not saying the police do not get into crime, they do, but on this one, they picked those cylinders and have returned them to the owner so it would be unfair,” Elachi noted.

“The police have already returned the gas cylinders to the owner.”

In the clip which circulated online for the better part of Wednesday during the anti-government protests, about four officers were captured loading gas cylinders into their vehicle packed by the roadside.

Some Kenyans on social media would later claim that the officers were stealing the cylinders, with others saying they were only safeguarding them.

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