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☆ Iga Swiatek, No. 1 Seed at U.S. Open, Loses in Fourth Round
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

1 women’s player in the world, took the first set against Jelena Ostapenko on Sunday night, it seemed like business as usual. Swiatek, a four-time Grand Slam champion at 22, after all, was the reigning U.S. Open champion, and going into her match against Ostapenko, she had not dropped a set at this tournament. But while Swiatek is often able to cruise through matches, Ostapenko has been a bit of a thorn in her side. Ostapenko has been undefeated against Swiatek, and extended that to four wins with a victory on Sunday night, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. When Ostapenko evened things up at a set apiece, Swiatek seemed to be out of her comfort zone.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko, Ostapenko, Swiatek Organizations: U.S, Ostapenko, Swiatek

☆ Why Are So Many Players Getting Sick at the U.S. Open?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Early in the second set of her second-round match on Thursday night, a ball bounced just past Ons Jabeur’s reach, and she lost the point, throwing her arms up in exasperation. 5 seed, would probably have reached the ball in time to return it down the line, but she has been playing while sick. Jabeur, who reached the U.S. Open final last year, is among several players who have had to contend with an illness of some sort at this year’s tournament. Dominic Thiem of Austria retired in the second set of his second-round match, doubled over at the net with what appeared to be a stomach-related issue. Tennys Sandgren, who failed to advance out of the qualifiers, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he became ill after returning home from the tournament.

Persons: Jabeur, Dominic Thiem, Austria, Emil Ruusuvuori, Tennys Sandgren Organizations: U.S

☆ Russia Reports Widespread Drone Attacks on Country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The police presence was heavy on Tuesday at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, where the press service of Yevgeny V. Prigozhin said he had been buried. “Those wishing to say goodbye can visit the Porokhovskoye cemetery” in St. Petersburg. The secrecy reflected the sensitivities surrounding Mr. Prigozhin, a longtime ally of Mr. Putin who launched a failed mutiny against Moscow’s military leadership in June. Video People paid tribute to Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary chief, and Dmitri Utkin, a longtime lieutenant. That left room for days of speculation about whether Mr. Prigozhin was really on the plane.

Persons: Yevgeny V, Prigozhin, Vladimir V, Putin, “, ”, Porokhovskoye, Mr, Wagner, Dmitri Utkin, Nanna Heitmann, Valery Chekalov, ” Farida Rustamova, Safronova, Jesus Jiménez Organizations: Russian, Video, Credit, The New York Locations: St . Petersburg, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Northern

☆ What Do Hurricane Categories Mean?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hurricanes are categorized by their wind speeds on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Hurricanes are split into five categories based on the wind speeds they produce:Category 1: winds between 74 m.p.h. To be considered a “major” hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center, a storm must reach Category 3 or above. A hurricane’s strength matters because it helps meteorologists give residents in its path an idea of what type of damage is possible. A Category 2 hurricane, for example, has the potential to cause major roof damage to homes, snap or uproot shallowly rooted trees, and knock out power in an area for days to weeks.

Persons: Herb Saffir, Bob Simpson Organizations: Hurricanes, National Hurricane Center

☆ A Field Guide to the 2023 U.S. Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With the grass and clay seasons over, the eyes of the tennis world now turn to Flushing Meadows. The U.S. Open, played from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10 in Queens, is the last Grand Slam tournament of the calendar year, giving players one more chance to win a major title. At last year’s U.S. Open, Serena Williams largely stole the show during the first week as she closed out her storied career by reaching the third round of the singles draw. Both of the 2022 singles winners are back in the field: Iga Swiatek, the 22-year-old from Poland and a four-time Grand Slam tournament champion, and Carlos Alcaraz, the 20-year-old Spanish phenom with two Grand Slam singles titles under his belt. In the United States, ESPN will carry the action from the first ball of the day until late into the night.

Persons: Serena Williams, Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Swiatek, Carlos Alcaraz Organizations: The U.S, U.S, ESPN, Labor, ABC Locations: Flushing Meadows, The, Queens, New York City, Poland, U.S, United States

☆ Lolita the Orca, Mainstay of Miami Seaquarium for 50 Years, Dies
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Lolita, an orca at the Miami Seaquarium that had entertained guests for more than 50 years before the park bowed to public pressure and planned to release it into the ocean, died on Friday. The orca, also known as Tokitae and Toki, had shown “serious signs of discomfort” over the past two days before she died of what was believed to be a renal issue, the Miami Seaquarium said in a post on Facebook. “Toki was an inspiration to all who had the fortune to hear her story and especially to the Lummi nation that considered her family,” the Seaquarium said. “Those of us who have had the honor and privilege to spend time with her will forever remember her beautiful spirit.”Under pressure from animal advocates who protested against the Seaquarium, officials there announced in February that it was preparing to return Lolita to the ocean. The Dolphin Company, which owns the aquatic park, said in March that relocating Lolita would happen in about 18 to 24 months.

Persons: Miami Seaquarium, “ Toki Organizations: Miami, Facebook, Dolphin Company

☆ Woman Who Mailed Ricin to Trump Is Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ms. Ferrier said in her statement that she viewed her actions “as a work of activism.”“I believed that the legal system of justice was not working,” she said. “I felt that a strong message had to be sent in order to stop what I saw as tyrannical behaviors. A sentencing memo said that Ms. Ferrier “appears to suffer from mental health issues,” and that she should be further evaluated for mental health treatment. Ms. Ferrier is not the first to try to kill a United States president with ricin. In 2014, a man admitted to having sent a letter with ricin to President Barack Obama.

Persons: Ferrier, “, ” “, ”, ” Ms, Prosecutors, Ferrier “, ricin, Barack Obama Organizations: Justice Department, United, ricin, Centers for Disease Control Locations: United States

☆ Man Who Set Fire to Planned Parenthood Clinic Gets 10 Years in Prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A man who told the authorities that he had set fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois after being reminded of an ex-girlfriend who he said had an abortion against his wishes was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years in prison. After he completes his sentence, Mr. Massengill will be on supervised release for three years, according to court records. Surveillance video footage led the police to Mr. Massengill, who initially denied that he had set the fire but later admitted that he had broken a window at the clinic and placed a burning container inside, the complaint said. Mr. Massengill told investigators that on the day of the fire, something had reminded him about an ex-girlfriend who he said had chosen to have an abortion, which upset him. He told the authorities that if the fire had caused “a little delay” in someone receiving care at the clinic then it would have been “all worth it,” the complaint said.

Persons: Tyler W, Judge James E, Massengill Organizations: Central District of, Knoxville Locations: Illinois, Chillicothe , Ill, U.S, Central District of Illinois, Peoria

agent on Wednesday fatally shot a man in Provo, Utah, who officials said was armed and had threatened to assassinate President Biden just hours before the president was scheduled to speak in nearby Salt Lake City. Craig D. Robertson, 75, was also charged with threatening to shoot other elected officials, including Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, as well as with making threats against law enforcement officials, according to court documents filed a day earlier in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. The shooting comes at a moment of intense polarization in American politics. The three indictments of former President Donald J. Trump have offered fodder for supporters and allies, who have seized on his mounting legal peril to fan a narrative of a Justice Department weaponized against him and bent on derailing the Republican front-runner’s campaign to retake the White House.

Persons: Biden, Craig D, Robertson, Alvin L, Bragg, Donald J, Trump, weaponized Organizations: Justice, Republican Locations: Provo , Utah, Salt Lake City, Manhattan, U.S

Communities from Tennessee to New York were clearing debris on Tuesday, a day after a wide-ranging storm system that tore through the Eastern United States killed at least two people, left more than a million homes and businesses without power and grounded hundreds of flights. Though power had largely been restored for many who were left in the dark on Monday, more than 240,000 customers were still without electricity as of Tuesday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks outages across the United States. By Tuesday afternoon, while dozens of flights across the Eastern U.S. had been delayed or canceled, airlines appeared to have largely recovered from the weather-related travel mess with far fewer delays and cancellations. The storm system continued pushing northeast on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain that prompted flash flood warnings in portions of New Hampshire and Maine.

Organizations: Eastern United Locations: Tennessee, New York, Eastern United States, United States, New Hampshire, Maine

PinnedImage Thunderstorms were expected to affect a wide swath of the Eastern United States on Monday, forecasters said. Credit... NOAAA “complicated and active” storm system was sweeping across the Eastern United States on Monday evening, bringing widespread thunderstorms with damaging winds that caused nearly one million homes and businesses to lose power. Around 900,000 homes and businesses across the eastern United States had lost power as of 7 p.m., according to poweroutage.us. The National Weather Service said a couple of tornadoes, small hail and wind gusts up to 70 m.p.h. Ahead of the storms, the United States Office of Personnel Management said federal offices in Washington would close by 3 p.m. Lauren McCarthy and Livia Albeck-Ripka contributed reporting.

Persons: Lauren McCarthy, Livia Albeck, Ripka Organizations: Eastern, NOAA, National Weather Service, Tornado, Environment Canada, New, United States, Management Locations: Eastern United States, New York, Georgia, Airports, McGraw, Syracuse, N.Y, Delaware , Maryland , New Jersey , New York , Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Canada, Ontario, Quebec, United States, poweroutage.us . Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania , Tennessee, New Jersey, New York City, Washington

☆ Airports ground flights across the Eastern U.S. because of the severe weather threat.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Airports across the Eastern United States grounded numerous flights because of the threat of severe weather on Monday afternoon, leading to dozens of flight delays and cancellations into the evening. The Federal Aviation Administration issued the temporary ground stops on Monday afternoon for a busy travel corridor linking major U.S. cities that included Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Reagan Washington National Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Dulles International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, as well as La Guardia Airport and Kennedy International Airport in New York. Dozens of flights were delayed or canceled at the airports where ground stops were in place, causing a ripple effect of delays across the country, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight information. said in a post on social media that it was “rerouting aircraft around the storms heading to the East Coast as much as possible.”

Organizations: Eastern, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington International Airport, Hartsfield, Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Reagan, Reagan Washington National Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Dulles International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, La Guardia Airport, Kennedy International Locations: States, U.S, Baltimore, Reagan Washington, Philadelphia, New York, East

Residents of Buenos Aires were wearing shorts and fanning themselves as they struggled to cope with unusual heat on Tuesday. By Thursday, they were back in the jackets and scarves that they would normally wear at this time of the year. The sudden change in wardrobe was the result of a heat wave gripping portions of South America, including Argentina, Chile and Paraguay, that are supposed to be experiencing winter. Argentina’s capital city broke an 81-year-old daily temperature record on Tuesday, when the high reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit (or 30 degrees Celsius), according to the national weather service. Normally, highs in Buenos Aires this time of year are in the 60s.

Persons: ” Locations: Buenos Aires, South America, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay

☆ City in Mexico Bans Performances of Songs With Misogynistic Lyrics
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Fed up with persistent violence, officials in the city of Chihuahua in northern Mexico approved a ban last week forbidding musical acts from performing songs with lyrics that degrade women. Mayor Marco Bonilla of Chihuahua said in an video update last week that the law banned the performance of songs that “promote violence against women” or encourage their discrimination, marginalization or exclusion. Mr. Bonilla said that those who violate the ban could face fines ranging from 674,000 pesos to 1.2 million pesos, or between about $39,000 and $71,000. The City Council approved the ban unanimously on Wednesday amid a rise in killings of women across Mexico in recent years, and as Chihuahua, a city of about 940,000 residents, is struggling with its own cases of violence against women. Recently, Mr. Bonilla said, about seven out of 10 calls to 911 in Chihuahua have involved cases of domestic violence, particularly against women.

Persons: Marco Bonilla, ”, Bonilla Organizations: Council Locations: Chihuahua, Mexico

☆ Four Decades Later, a Victim of the Highway Killer Is Finally Identified
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For nearly 40 years, the remains of a body found on an abandoned farm in rural Indiana were known as those of Adam Doe. All four were victims of Larry Eyler, the serial killer known as the Highway Killer, who murdered at least 21 young men, the authorities said. He preyed across the Midwest, and some of his victims were young gay men whom he stabbed several times. Two of the victims were identified within months. A third victim was identified in 2021.

Persons: Adam Doe, Larry Eyler, Danny Bridges, Eyler, Keith Lavell Bibbs Locations: Indiana, Chicago, Newton

☆ Former Church Minister Charged With 1975 Murder of 8-Year-Old Girl
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On the morning of Aug. 15, 1975, Gretchen Harrington, 8, left her home in Broomall, Pa., for summer Bible school. The Trinity Chapel Christian Reformed Church was less than half a mile down the road, but Gretchen never made it. Skeletal remains found nearby in Ridley Creek State Park on Oct. 14, 1975, were later identified as Gretchen’s. On Monday, the district attorney’s office in Delaware County, Pa., west of Philadelphia, announced that it had filed charges against David Zandstra, 83, of Marietta, Ga., in Gretchen’s murder. He is being held in Cobb County, Ga., where he has been denied bail.

Persons: Gretchen Harrington, Gretchen, David Zandstra, Zandstra Organizations: Trinity Chapel Christian Reformed Church Locations: Broomall, Pa, Ridley Creek, Delaware County, Philadelphia, Marietta, Ga, Georgia, Cobb County ,

☆ Investor Charged With Kidnapping ‘Crypto King’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Late one night in early December, Aiden Pleterski, a self-proclaimed “Crypto King,” was kidnapped, then beaten and tortured over three days, according to court records. This week, Akil Heywood, 39, who had invested with Mr. Pleterski, 24, was charged with kidnapping him. The Toronto Police Service said in a statement on Monday that it had arrested and charged four men on counts of kidnapping for ransom and other charges: Mr. Heywood, Tyler Fast, 37, and Deren Akyeam-Pong, 24, all of Toronto, as well as Rakeem Henry, 24, of London. Mr. Heywood was among dozens who invested with Mr. Pleterski, who was supposed to invest their money in cryptocurrency and foreign exchange positions, according to court documents. But after spending money feeding a lavish lifestyle, buying three Lamborghinis and three McLarens, Mr. Pleterski filed for bankruptcy in August, leaving investors wondering what had happened to their money.

Persons: Aiden Pleterski, “ Crypto, ”, —, Akil Heywood, Pleterski, Heywood, Tyler Fast, Deren, Henry Organizations: Mr, Toronto Police Service Locations: Toronto, London, cryptocurrency

☆ Royal Caribbean Bets on a Giant Candy-Colored Cruise Ship
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | More About Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the Icon of the Seas sets sail early next year, it will take some time to disappear from the horizon. At 1,198 feet long and a gross tonnage of 250,800, it is hard to miss. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship will have 20 decks packed with more than 20 bars and restaurants, seven pools, nine whirlpools, and six water slides, as well as mini golf, rock climbing and an arcade. Since Royal Caribbean announced this newest ship last year, it has helped to boost the company’s sales with high demand for advanced bookings. Some can’t wait to climb aboard, with rooms already selling out for the ship’s first voyage.

Organizations: Royal, Royal Caribbean, Apple Locations: Royal Caribbean

☆ National Geographic Lays Off More Writers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Jesus Jiménez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

National Geographic, the science and nature magazine that for more than a century has sent its writers and photographers to explore and document some of the most remote corners of the Earth, shed more writers and other staff members this week in a round of layoffs that had been announced in April. The round of layoffs is the second at Washington-based magazine in the last year, after a number of top editors were laid off in September, and comes during a tumultuous time for the media industry as several news outlets have decreased head counts, including Buzzfeed, Los Angeles Times, Vox Media and The Washington Post. The company that manages the publication, National Geographic Partners, said in a statement on Thursday that National Geographic “will continue to publish a monthly magazine that is dedicated to exceptional multiplatform storytelling with cultural impact.”“Staffing changes will not change our ability to do this work, but rather give us more flexibility to tell different stories and meet our audiences where they are across our many platforms,” the company said, without specifying the number of people being laid off. “Any insinuation that the recent changes will negatively impact the magazine, or the quality of our storytelling, is simply incorrect.”

Organizations: Geographic, Los Angeles Times, Vox Media, The Washington Post, National Geographic Partners Locations: Washington

This week’s attempt to rescue the five individuals trapped in the submersible, includes both the U.S. Navy and the Coast Guard. But, she said, when the cost of search and rescue efforts “crosses a certain threshold, funds may be diverted from N.P.S. The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to questions about the expense of past extensive search and rescue efforts. Credit... U.S. Coast Guard, via Associated PressMr. Derreumaux said he was thankful to the Coast Guard for saving his life, along with the lives of many others in need of its help. “I would not have called the Coast Guard if it weren’t a life-threatening situation,” he said.

Persons: ”, Chris Boyer, —, Boyer, Cynthia Hernandez, Peter Anderson, Cyril Derreumaux, kayaker, Derreumaux, “, ” Claire Fahy Organizations: U.S . Navy, Coast Guard, National Association for Search, National Park Service, OceanGate Expeditions, Abercrombie, Kent, The Coast Guard, San Francisco Chronicle, Coast Guard helicopter, . U.S . Coast Guard, Associated Press, Guard Locations: United States, New Hampshire, N.P.S, California, Hawaii, Marin County, Calif, . U.S

“The submersible industry had significant concerns over the strategy of building a deep sea expedition submersible without following existing classification safety guidelines,” Mr. Kohnen said. OceanGate said in the post that because its Titan craft was so innovative, it could take years to get it certified by leading assessment agencies. “Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation,” the company wrote. The submersible sustained modest damage to its exterior, he wrote, leading OceanGate to cancel the mission so it could make repairs. Still, Mr. Concannon wrote in the filing, 28 individuals had been able to visit the Titanic wreckage on the craft in 2022.

Persons: —, Will Kohnen, Mr, Kohnen, Rush, OceanGate, Bart Kemper, ”, Kemper, Charles Kohnen, Will Kohnen’s, “, David Concannon, Concannon, Rebecca Beach Smith, Kitty Bennett Organizations: The New York Times, Stockton Rush, Manned, Vehicles, Marine Technology Society, Titan, Atlantis, Eastern, of, Court Locations: Canadian, U.S, of Virginia

The submersible vessel carrying five people slipped into the dark waters of the North Atlantic, heading to what remained of the Titanic, 12,500 feet under the sea. The expedition, like many before it, was a testament to the enduring fascination with the storied ship that struck an iceberg and sank off Newfoundland more than a century ago. But one hour and 45 minutes into the dive on Sunday morning, the craft went missing, setting off a search by rescue crews from two countries and adding another layer of mystery and intrigue to the Titanic wreck. In social media posts, Mr. Harding, 58, had written excitedly about the upcoming trip. “I am proud to finally announce that I joined @oceangateexped for their RMS TITANIC mission as a mission specialist on the sub going down to the Titanic,” he said on Instagram, adding, “More expedition updates to follow, IF the weather holds.”

Persons: Hamish Harding, Harding, ” Organizations: World Records Locations: Newfoundland, British, “

Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:04 - 0:00 transcript Coast Guard Searching for Lost Submersible Near Site of Titanic The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search and rescue mission after a submersible disappeared during a dive to the site of the Titanic. We are doing everything that we can do to make sure that we can locate and rescue those on board. So after receiving the call, we launched, well, reached out to the vessel Polar Prince and began a surface search looking for the submersible. We’ve subsequently coordinated with the Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Armed Forces to deploy additional assets to the scene. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search and rescue mission after a submersible disappeared during a dive to the site of the Titanic.

Persons: John Mauger, We’ve, Steven Senne, Admiral Mauger, “, ”, we’re Organizations: U.S . Coast Guard, . Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Armed Forces, Associated, Coast Guard, OceanGate Expeditions, United, New York National Guard, Fox Locations: Cape Cod, Boston, U.S, United States, Canada

A team of scientists working to map the Titanic in 2010 as part of a project to create a high-definition 3D image of the ship. For decades after the Titanic sank, searchers scanned the dark waters of the North Atlantic for the ship’s final resting place. Since the wreck was found, in 1985, it has drawn hundreds of filmmakers, salvagers, explorers and tourists, using robots and submersibles. Mr. Cameron, who has repeatedly visited the wreck, was among those calling for care around the site. By the time it began offering tours to paying customers, researchers said that the Titanic had little scientific value compared to other sites.

Persons: James Cameron, Cameron’s, Cameron Organizations: Titanic, Atlantic, Expeditions

Persons: James Cameron, Cameron’s, Cameron Organizations: Titanic, Atlantic, Expeditions

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