KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — One of the wives and three children of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony have been repatriated from Central African Republic while he remains at large, Ugandan authorities said Wednesday.
Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court on 36 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed between July 2002 until December 2005 in northern Uganda.
A hearing at the Hague to confirm the charges has been scheduled for Sept. 9. The U.S. has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Kony's wife and the children who were airlifted to Uganda on Wednesday are the latest members of his family to be returned to Uganda, said Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a military spokesman.
Kony is the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, a rebel group opposed to Uganda’s government that became notorious for kidnapping children who then were forced to fight.
Kony is believed to be hiding somewhere in Central African Republic, said Kulayigye.
The LRA began in the 1980s and at the peak of its powers gained notoriety for cruelty against civilians in Uganda, Congo, Central African Republic and what is now South Sudan.
In 2012 the U.S.-based advocacy group Invisible Children made a highly successful online video highlighting the LRA’s crimes, including the abduction of children for use as sex slaves or fighters. The LRA has been in decline for years, with many of its top commanders killed or captured.
FILE - In this July 31, 2006 file photo, Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, speaks during a meeting with a delegation of 160 officials and lawmakers from northern Uganda. (AP Photo, File)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open's first formal opening ceremony became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major.
There was Crowded House, the band, playing a set of four hits. There was a full house — a capacity crowd in the 15,000-seat stadium.
Rod Laver, the great Australian player of Grand Slam fame, was in the house. The 87-year-old Aussie was sitting courtside in Rod Laver Arena, the center court at Melbourne Park named in his honor.
Federer, the six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.
It went to script, with Federer winning the first point despite framing a forehand and then emphatically finishing off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.
Novak Djokovic, who has won 10 Australian titles among his record 24 major championships, was there to watch.
The Australian Open main draw singles competitions start Sunday. Djokovic plays his opening match on Monday.
Australian Open organizers turned the 2026 edition into a three-week festival of tennis, with 217,999 fans attending across six days to watch exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Point Slam before the main draw started.
Federer was back in Australia for the first time since 2021, making the trip now because he retired from competitive tennis before he could do a farewell season tour.
“It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up,” Federer said. “It’s super important to be grateful” to earlier generations of stars.
Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts with partner Ash Barty of Australia in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Rod Laver, centre, waves ahead of a doubles match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andre Agassi of the United States, left, and Lleyton Hewitt, right, and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andre Agassi, right, of the United States react in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Novak Djokovic, right, of Serbia embraces Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts with partner Andre Agassi, left, of the United States in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
