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☆ Clijsters wants ATP, WTA to merge as women's tour celebrates 50 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Kim Clijsters of Belgium speaks as she is inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, U.S., July 22, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File PhotoNEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - It is time for the men's and women's professional tennis bodies to merge says former world number one Kim Clijsters, who wants a united front in the sport as the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) celebrates its 50-year anniversary. Like people who don't know much about tennis, they say, 'Oh yea, ATP and WTA', but behind it there's one unit.' The ITHF unveiled a video segment celebrating 50 years of the WTA this year called "TennisWorthy." And you kind of always bump into a wall where, you know, not much happens and it stays with conversations.

Persons: Kim Clijsters, Brian Snyder, Billie Jean King, Clijsters, King, Steffi Graf, it's, Roger Federer, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris Organizations: International Tennis Hall of Fame, REUTERS, Women's Tennis Association, Wimbledon, WTA, men's Association of Tennis Professionals, Millennium, Thomson Locations: Belgium, Newport , Rhode Island, U.S, German, New York

☆ Two-time champion Kvitova warms up for Wimbledon with German Open title
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 33-year-old Czech, who also beat Vekic en route to victory at the Miami Open this year, earned her 31st career title. The left-hander looked completely at ease on the surface as she captured her sixth title on grass, more than any other active WTA player, in a warning to her rivals ahead of Wimbledon. "I love grass, I love you," Kvitova told a thinning crowd at the Steffi Graf stadium. Kvitova found herself a break down early in the second set but battled back from 5-3 and moved 6-5 up with an ace. Vekic, who has shot up the rankings from 69th to 23rd this season following an Australian Open quarter-final spot and a title in Monterrey, forced a tiebreak.

Persons: Petra Kvitova, Croatia's Donna Vekic, Lisi Niesner BERLIN, Donna Vekic, Kvitova, Steffi Graf, Donna, Vekic, Karolos, Christian Radnedge, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Tennis Club, Wimbledon, Miami, Eastbourne, Croat, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Czech, Croatia, London, Wimbledon, Monterrey

☆ ‘It’s About Connections’: Alicia Graf Mack Remakes Juilliard Dance
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Brian Seibert | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The Juilliard dance department, under her leadership, seems like a happy place. Raised in Columbia, Md., she joined Dance Theater of Harlem at 17 and was an immediate standout: a tall, long-limbed, exceptionally graceful ballerina. Told she was too tall by American Ballet Theater and New York City Ballet, Mack reinvented herself again, becoming a star of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and greatly expanding her stylistic range into modern, contemporary and hip-hop. Asked back by the Ailey company, she squeezed out a few more years, then moved into teaching dance at Washington University and Webster University in St. Louis. A child of professors, she found her “happy place” at universities, she said, and realized that helping serious students on the cusp of their careers was what she wanted to do.

Persons: Mack, ”, “, Alvin Ailey, St . Louis Organizations: Juilliard, Dance Theater of Harlem, Columbia University, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey, Washington University, Webster University Locations: Columbia, Md, St .

☆ Hegra has been inhabited for 12,000 years -- but has only had tourists for four
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Now, increased investment in archeology from the Saudi government means that more and more information is coming out of Hegra and other Nabatean sites. I think they just get absorbed in the story of the growth of the Roman Empire.”"Hinat" greets travelers at the Hegra visitor's center. Now, travelers can see her in the Hegra visitors’ center. Expand your searchMany visitors combine their Hegra trip with visits to the smaller nearby historic sites of Dadan and Jabal Ikmah. Don’t miss the covered outdoor station near the Hegra visitor’s center, where you can practice using a small chisel to carve your name or initials into pieces of stone.

☆ Migrants risk life and limb to jump Mexico trains in rush to border
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Jose Luis Gonzalez | Gustavo Graf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

I doubt it,” said Romario Solano, 23, a Venezuelan, while waiting for hours in baking sun near the trash-strewn rail tracks in Huehuetoca. For years, mainly Central Americans have crisscrossed Mexico on cargo trains, dubbing them collectively “La Bestia” (The Beast) due to the risk of injury, even death, if they fell off. The latest wave of people aboard “La Bestia” are largely poor Venezuelans, including families with small children, mostly aiming to reach Ciudad Juarez, opposite the Texan city of El Paso. “There are hundreds of people arriving every day,” said migrant activist Guadalupe Gonzalez last week in the central city of Irapuato, where the train makes a stop. “We hadn’t seen so many migrants passing through here like this before.”During the past month, as many as 700 people were trying to board per day, she said.

Five months later, on Nov. 24, the regulator approved the plan for the Quesqui field in the southern state of Tabasco. Interviews with eight sources with direct knowledge of the matter show Hernandez had been pressured by Lopez Obrador's government and Pemex to approve Quesqui and other plans, or resign. According to these people, at least three other senior officials at the regulator were also pressured by officials in government and at the regulator to help approve the plans. One of the officials who the sources said was pressured, the former technical head, Julio Trejo, resigned shortly before the Quesqui plan was approved. Guerrero also reiterated that the Quesqui field "is a strategic project" as defined by the government.

☆ Pace of rise in global sea level has doubled, UN climate report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The remains of houses are pictured as rising sea levels destroy homes built along the shoreline, forcing villagers to relocate, in El Bosque, Mexico, November 7, 2022. Extreme glacier melt and record ocean heat levels - which cause water to expand - contributed to an average rise in sea levels of 4.62mm a year between 2013-2022, the U.N. agency said in a major report detailing the havoc of climate change. "We have already lost this melting of glaciers game and sea level rise game so that's bad news," WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas told a press conference. Rising sea levels threaten some coastal cities and the very existence of low-lying states such as the island of Tuvalu - which plans to build a digital version of itself in case it is submerged. Climate scientists have warned that the world could breach a new average temperature record in 2023 or 2024, fuelled by climate change and the anticipated return of warming El Niño conditions.

☆ Analysis: Rates shift gives European currencies fresh legs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Alun John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But markets expect another 75 bps of European Central Bank rate hikes, with the deposit rate rising to a peak in the autumn. Expectations for higher official interest rates typically drag money market and government bond yields higher, attracting investor cash into a country and boosting its currency. "An interest rate differential that is flat between the two regions would be equivalent to a euro/dollar move up to around 1.20." TURNAROUNDThe Federal Reserve's relentless rate hikes sent the dollar to 20-year highs last year as other big central banks moved more slowly. "But interestingly last month has seen the pound stronger, because of limited spillovers and declining U.S. and European rate expectations."

☆ Djokovic targets elusive gold medal at Paris Olympics
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 2 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic said he is already looking forward to next year's Olympic Games in Paris, as he seeks to win a gold medal that has so far eluded him in an otherwise glittering career. World number one Djokovic won a bronze medal in Beijing 2008 but has been unable to build on that in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The tennis competition at Paris 2024 will be held on the claycourts of Roland Garros where Djokovic has won two of his 22 Grand Slam titles -- in 2016 and 2021. "I look forward to the Olympics," Djokovic told reporters after beating Tallon Griekspoor in Dubai on Wednesday. "I always try to be very clear with myself what the goals are, what I want from competitive tennis," Djokovic said.

☆ Djokovic says return to top spot more special after tough year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It happens," Djokovic told reporters following his win over Tomas Machac in Dubai on Tuesday. Djokovic is now into his 378th week as the world number one, surpassing Steffi Graf's record for the most weeks at the top of the sport. But he said younger players like Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas will eventually catch up with him. I'm not playing as much and don't plan to play as many weeks as they do," Djokovic said. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fearless Alcaraz can show next-gen how to topple Djokovic, say sports psychology experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Florida-based Patrick Cohn, who teaches mental skills and sports psychology techniques to professional athletes, said he was not surprised Djokovic was still dominating the next generation. Cohn believes young players must rely on better preparation, tactics and develop a stronger mental game to topple Djokovic. I suggest to younger players that they view opponents as nameless and rankless." Former tennis player Jeff Greenwald, now a sports psychology consultant, said the Spanish world number two possessed rare qualities required to excel at the elite level. He will be a contender and likely one of the players who begins to take a bite out of Djokovic."

☆ Djokovic labours to victory over Machac on return to action in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic won on his return to the ATP Tour following his Australian Open triumph but he had to work hard to beat Czech qualifier Tomas Machac 6-3 3-6 7-6(1) in his Dubai Tennis Championships opener on Tuesday. Machac blinked first in the tiebreak and Djokovic did not need another invitation as he finally quelled the world number 130 to extend his 2023 winning streak to 13 matches. "Tomas didn't play like a world number 130. He was giving me all kinds of trouble but when it mattered most I found another gear," Djokovic said. Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Novak Djokovic breaks Steffi Graf's record for weeks at No. 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 22-time Grand Slam champion broke the mark set by Steffi Graf. 1, to match Graf -- one of the all-time greats," Djokovic said. Djokovic won his men's record-tying 22nd major title last month at the Australian Open. Graf, also a 22-time Grand Slam winner, was No. 1 in the women's rankings for 377 weeks before retiring in 1999.

☆ Djokovic 'pain free' as he prepares for return in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic said he was now playing without pain after recovering from a hamstring injury as he prepares to return to the ATP Tour in Dubai this week following his record-extending 10th Australian Open title last month. The 35-year-old Serb said his Dubai participation was in doubt until a few days ago but he had passed all his fitness tests. The last few days it's really getting as much practice as possible to get myself back in shape to be able to compete at a high level," Djokovic said. Djokovic begins the Dubai tournament having entered his 378th week as world number one, surpassing Steffi Graf as the player with the most weeks at the top of the sport. "It's surreal to be that many weeks number one, to match Graf - one of the all-time greats," Djokovic said.

☆ Krejcikova stuns top-ranked Swiatek to claim Dubai crown
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Barbora Krejcikova beat an out-of-sorts Iga Swiatek 6-4 6-2 in the Dubai Tennis Championships final on Saturday to end the top-ranked Pole's winning run in the Middle East swing and capture her first WTA title of 2023 and sixth overall. It was the first set that Doha champion Swiatek had dropped in the past two weeks and the 21-year-old found herself trailing 4-2 in the second set as Krejcikova took control of the match. Krejcikova, who defeated Australian Open champion and world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals and the third-ranked Jessica Pegula in the semis, closed out the match on serve to join an elite club. "It's a huge achievement," Krejcikova, who won her first WTA 1000 title, added. Krejcikova is set to climb from number 30 to 16 when the rankings are updated on Monday.

☆ Sky's the limit for Djokovic after matching Graf, say younger rivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russian world number five Andrey Rublev said Djokovic had shown that anything is possible. "And at the age of 35, he still can be the best player in the world and break records," Rublev, 25, who lost to Djokovic in the Australian Open quarter-finals, told reporters in Doha. "If you do the things right, you can perform at the highest level ... age doesn't matter. Former world number two Alexander Zverev said Djokovic had shown how consistent he can be by dominating his rivals in the last decade. However, Zverev said that watching Graf being overtaken would be bittersweet for him.

☆ Novak Djokovic's run to 22 Grand Slam titles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

MELBOURNE, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian final on Sunday to win a men's record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title. Tally: Federer 13; Nadal 5; Djokovic 12009: Nadal won his first hardcourt Grand Slam title, edging out Federer in five sets in Australian Open final. Tally: Federer 16; Nadal 10; Djokovic 42012: Djokovic overcame Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final in Open Era to win his third Australian Open title. Nadal maintained his stranglehold on the French Open, before holding off Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final to move within one of Federer's Grand Slam haul. Tally: Nadal 22, Djokovic 21; Federer 202023: Djokovic won a record-extending 10th Australian Open title by beating Tsitsipas for his 22nd Grand Slam title, equalling Nadal's record.

☆ Novak Djokovic's run to record 23 Grand Slam titles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Tally: Federer 13; Nadal 5; Djokovic 12009: Nadal won his first hardcourt Grand Slam title, edging out Federer in five sets in the Australian Open final. Tally: Federer 16; Nadal 10; Djokovic 42012: Djokovic overcame Nadal in the longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era to win his third Australian Open title. Tally: Federer 17; Nadal 14; Djokovic 72015: Djokovic won three majors - the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Nadal maintained his stranglehold on the French Open, before holding off Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final to move within one of Federer's Grand Slam haul. Tally: Nadal 22; Djokovic 21; Federer 202023: Djokovic won a record-extending 10th Australian Open title by beating Tsitsipas for his 22nd Grand Slam title, equalling Nadal's record.

Persons: Roland Garros, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Federer, Mark Philippoussis, Tally, Nadal, Mariano Puerta, Djokovic, Jo, Wilfried Tsonga, Pete Sampras, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych, Margaret Court, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, Sampras, Daniil Medvedev, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini, Nick Kyrgios, Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Hardik Vyas, Jan Harvey Organizations: French, REUTERS, Wimbledon, U.S ., U.S, Nadal, Sampras, Djokovic, Roland Garros . Records, Roland, Federer, Melbourne, Flushing, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, PARIS, Swiss, U.S, New York, Flushing Meadows

☆ Some Starbucks customers are furious about changes to its rewards program that makes most free drinks harder to redeem
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Customers who enroll in the chain's Starbucks Rewards program earn points — or "stars" — when purchasing food or drinks, which can then be redeemed for free menu items, like coffee. Insider spoke to four Starbucks customers who said they'll visit the chain less often thanks to the change. Though she's been a loyal customer since 2015, Graf-Juarez plans to stop visiting Starbucks, she told Insider. Amy Babby, another former Starbucks devotee, told Insider that she plans to discontinue the habit completely. Chipotle increased the number of points rewards members needed for a free burrito by 16%, and Dunkin' revamped its entire rewards system, more than doubling the amount of spending required for drinks like a free latte.

☆ Mexican journalists, cultural commentators demand president end provocations
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( David Alire Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Gustavo GrafMEXICO CITY, Dec 21 (Reuters) - A cross-section of Mexican journalists, columnists and cultural commentators demanded in an open letter on Wednesday that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stop harassing critical media, arguing he fans the flames of violence with his rhetoric. The open letter accused Lopez Obrador of being "politically responsible" for the attack on Gomez, adding that "practically all the expressions of hate against journalists, are born, incubated and spread" from the president's office. Lopez Obrador immediately condemned the attack, but then quickly pivoted to attacking elite journalists he dismissed as conservative pundits, including Gomez. According to Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Mexico is the world's deadliest country for journalists with 11 killed so far this year. The open letter, also signed by well-known figures in Mexican film and magazine publishing, warned that even more violent attacks on media are likely if the president refused to exercise more "self-control."

The net effect was to catapult next year's implied Fed terminal rate well above 5%. Fed vs BoE Terminal RatesNIESR chart on UK variable mortgagesBANK "IN A HOLE"Although the BoE insisted further hikes from 3% would likely be needed, two of the nine person policymaking council voted for a smaller rate rise this week. State Street's EMEA macro strategist Tim Graf also thinks a terminal rate closer to 4% is now "the more likely end state for policy rates." The BoE needs to be super careful about the pound because another withering lurch will simply aggravate import and energy price inflation. by Mike Dolan, Twitter: @reutersMikeD; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Liz Mills: How coach became the first woman to lead a men's basketball team in an international tournament
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But as the first woman to coach a men’s national team at a major FIBA tournament, Liz Mills must think of everything – even what she wears. Like many of us when watching a sports team, Mills thought that she could do better; but unlike most of us, she did something about it. Members of the network have experienced discrimination of all kinds, particularly those working in the men’s game. AS Salé was the first job in men's basketball that Mills was paid for. “I want to be the first woman to coach at the World Cup as a head coach of an African [men’s] team,” she asserts.

☆ The anesthesiologist who is putting you under may work for a private-equity firm
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Gretchen Morgenson | Gretchen Morgenson Is The Senior Financial Reporter For The Nbc News Investigative Unit. A Former Stockbroker | She Won The Pulitzer Prize In For Her | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

But some physicians and patient advocates say the health care investments of private-equity firms and their drive to reap relatively short-term profits are inconsistent with putting patients first. Independent academic studies find that private equity’s laser focus on profits in health care operations can result in lower staffing levels at hospitals and nursing homes. Neither the FTC nor U.S. Anesthesia Partners responded to voice mails seeking comment; a spokesman for U.S. Anesthesia Partners confirmed the inquiry to the Journal, saying it is cooperating. NBC News asked both of NAPA’s private-equity owners about the disputes involving the company and the research showing higher costs associated with private-equity ownership of anesthesiology practices. Covid was sweeping the country and Moses Taylor was doing its best to respond to the health care crisis, according to its lawsuit.

☆ UNICEF Germania: Pandemia are consecinţe majore asupra copiilor și tinerilor
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-21 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +1 min

Un raport al UNICEF Germania, publicat la un an de la prima carantină, confirmă ''consecinţe majore'' ale pandemiei asupra copiilor, tinerilor şi familiilor, scrie agerpres.ro. După un an de pandemie, copiilor şi tinerilor le lipsesc multe dintre lucrurile care le conferă bunăstare. Din cauza închiderii şcolilor şi a restricţiilor privind viaţa personală, acestora le lipsesc în prezent exerciţiile fizice, distracţia şi interacţiunea cu colegii, a explicat Georg Graf Waldersee, preşedintele UNICEF Germania, citat marţi pe site-ul UNICEF Germania. Pe de altă parte, problemele de la şcoală pot avea ca rezultat mai puţine oportunităţi de angajare pentru unii dintre ei. Preşedintele UNICEF Germania pledează pentru ca tinerii şi copiii să se poată folosi din nou de spaţiile publice, cu sprijin mai mare pentru copiii defavorizaţi.

Persons: Georg Graf Waldersee Organizations: UNICEF, UNICEF Germania Locations: UNICEF Germania

☆ Pandemia are consecinţe majore asupra copiilor, atrage atenţia UNICEF Germania
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-21 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +1 min

Sursa foto: jurnal.mdPandemia are consecinţe majore asupra copiilor, atrage atenţia UNICEF GermaniaUn raport al UNICEF Germania, publicat la un an de la prima carantină, confirmă „consecinţe majore” ale pandemiei asupra copiilor, tinerilor şi familiilor, transmite Agerpres. După un an de pandemie, copiilor şi tinerilor le lipsesc multe dintre lucrurile care le conferă bunăstare. Din cauza închiderii şcolilor şi a restricţiilor privind viaţa personală, acestora le lipsesc în prezent exerciţiile fizice, distracţia şi interacţiunea cu colegii, a explicat Georg Graf Waldersee, preşedintele UNICEF Germania, citat marţi pe site-ul UNICEF Germania. Pe de altă parte, problemele de la şcoală pot avea ca rezultat mai puţine oportunităţi de angajare pentru unii dintre ei. Preşedintele UNICEF Germania pledează pentru ca tinerii şi copiii să se poată folosi din nou de spaţiile publice, cu sprijin mai mare pentru copiii defavorizaţi.

Persons: Georg Graf Waldersee Organizations: UNICEF, Agerpres, UNICEF Germania Locations: UNICEF Germania

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