In 1996, Swiss sports journalist Rene Stauffer encountered a 15-year old Roger Federer at a junior tennis tournament in Zurich. One quote from Stauffer's hasty locker-room interview speaks volumes to the titan he has become: "One should just be able to play a perfect game." Few would disagree 22 years later – on the week that Federer, 36, became the oldest number one in the history of the sport – that he has accomplished that aim. Over the course of a record-breaking career, Federer has altered the course of tennis history. He now sits atop the sport for the first time in six years. It was back in February 2004, in the week that Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook from his Harvard dormitory, that Federer first reached its zenith. Years later he is still beyond compare.
Evolution within the sport in that time make the accomplishment all the more impressive. With fitter and stronger players, more physicality and constantly improvements in racquet technology, tennis has progressively become a young man's sport. The modern game exerts heavy pressure on joints and ligaments. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – tennis giants in their own right – are all fighting to salvage their careers in the face of lingering injuries. It is thanks to Federer's elegant style – principally his uniquely fluid movement – and his selective choice of tournaments, that he can still top the sport today.
Federer never swears, throws his racquet nor complains. After even the longest of matches, he takes time to engage with fans and attend press conferences. He is as gracious in defeat as he is in victory. A committed humanitarian, his foundation has spent $13m building schools in southern Africa.
Early last year Federer slipped to 17th in the world. With 17 grand slam titles, his place in sporting history was secure. His rivalry with Rafael Nadal was regarded as one of the greatest ever. His fortune was vast. With renewed hunger, he fought back to win three grand slams in the space of a year. Roger Federer's dedication to rule the sport is an inspiration to us all.
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
The specs: 2019 GMC Yukon Denali
Price, base: Dh306,500
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Power: 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 621Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.9L / 100km
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
