Practising the advice she encourages in others, Abuldjadayel is now aiming for an exciting new goal.
After trying her hand at rowing, the Saudi sport star has turned her sights to cross-country skiing, where she hopes to secure a quota for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Should she successfully do so, Abduljadayel would become the first woman from Saudi Arabia to compete at the Winter Games, and only the second Saudi after FayikAbdi, who entered the men’s alpine skiing competition at Beijing 2022.
“Many people don’t know, but I actually used cross-country skiing as part of my training, and not thinking, many, many years ago, not thinking this would actually lead me to become a cross-country skier,” she says, explaining how it entered her regimen in 2019.
“I’ve never felt happier than trying the skis for the first time. It was amazing. I loved it.”
Coming from a country better known for its sand than its snow, Abduljadayel says she relishes how difficult her dream pursuit is. And with the Asian Winter Games coming to the country in 2029, the timing couldn’t be better.
“I really, really liked the idea of becoming a cross-country skier and the challenge of having me, an athlete from Saudi Arabia living in Riyadh, where basically we don’t have any snow.
“And this is actually my goal now, to qualify for Milano Cortina as a cross-country skier for Saudi Arabia, a female skier in the Olympics.”
However, Abuljadayel’s new ambitions evolve, one thing she will be standing by throughout the journey is the mantra that has got her to the status of historymaker: “be a goldfish”.
The concept, borrowed from the television sports comedy Ted Lasso, suggests that athletes should learn to forget quickly, just as a goldfish is alleged to do.
“In the world of sports, you’re going to face a lot of challenges. But you can’t hold them. You’re going to face a lot of losses. You’re going to lose more than you can win,” Abuljadayel says.
“So, you’ve just got to keep on going and going until you reach your goal.”
Pension funds and institutional investors made a “huge mistake” and exaggerated their role in environmental, social and government (ESG) issues to promote their products, the outgoing chair of Aberdeen Group, Douglas Flint, has said.
Flint, who has chaired the recently rebranded fund manager since 2019, said “ridiculously extravagant claims” had been made by some companies, which were driven by a mindset that their job was “not really about investing money: we’re just jolly good people and we’re saving the world”.
Flint, who also chaired HSBC between 2010 and 2017, told a City of London net zero conference on Monday that those claims may have been over-egged, in a way that put them at legal risk, particularly in the US.
“Our industry then made a kind of huge mistake. It became a marketing thing: let’s tell everyone we’re saving the world, we’re saving the planet,” he said, in comments first reported by the Financial Times.
The legal risks have risen in recent months after a severe drop in support for ESG issues in the US. Rightwing activists and politicians have targeted financial companies for supporting climate policies, having been emboldened by policymakers in Trump’s administration, which pushed for a resurgence in oil and gas production.
The ESG backlash has spooked some companies, worried that they could be targeted by lawsuits and blacklisting that could harm their US business. Even before Trump took office in November, Texas added NatWest to a growing list of companies accused of boycotting its oil industry, in a move that threatened the UK bank’s business with the US state.
For others, the ESG backlash has provided an opportunity to scrap international green initiatives that some bosses claim make their businesses less competitive. High profile investors including BlackRock and State Street have cancelled membership in voluntary schemes such as the Climate Action 100+ group in recent months.
Although US companies have led the charge in dropping ESG commitments, there are growing fears that UK investors could follow suit, meaning there will be less pressure on publicly listed companies, whose shares they hold, to reduce their carbon footprint.
That could be compounded by a potential watering down of the Labour party’s manifesto pledge to ensure that FTSE 100 companies – as well the City’s banks, asset managers, insurers and pension funds – adopt “credible” climate transition plans in line with the Paris agreement’s pledge to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.
Last week, a consultation on those rules showed the government was exploring less rigorous rules as part of a drive to cut red tape and compliance costs. One of the options being considered would mean the government “will not require an entity to have a discrete transition plan or to set climate targets in line with a particular climate goal”.
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“The focus remains on the impact of the environment and climate on business profits, not the impact of business on the planet,” Mark Cliffe, a visiting fellow at the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, said. “Given the lack of clarity on the government’s own climate plans, let alone the backtracking in the US and elsewhere, this is likely to lead to further backsliding on businesses’ commitments to climate action.”
Last week, a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said the government was “committed to making the UK the sustainable finance capital of the world.
“The consultation we have launched seeks stakeholder views on a range of approaches to transition plans, including on climate alignment, as part of our commitment to take forward the manifesto commitment in full.”
WASHINGTON, July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, on World Bronchiectasis Day, the American Lung Association is launching a new campaign to support people living with bronchiectasis, which is a chronic and progressive lung condition that affects between 350,000 and 500,000 adults in the United States. The new campaign aims to educate people living with bronchiectasis about how to improve their disease management, help connect them with emotional support and ultimately improve their life.
Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease in which the airways (bronchi) become widened and scarred due to repeated inflammation and infection. This damage makes it difficult to clear mucus from the lungs, leading to persistent cough, shortness of breath, frequent infections and decreased lung function.
“While there is currently no cure for bronchiectasis, early diagnosis, effective management and a solid support system can help people with the disease lead heathy and active lives,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “Through education, support and empowering individuals to communicate effectively with their healthcare providers, we can help patients better manage their symptoms and prevent serious complications.”
The American Lung Association’s free bronchiectasis awareness campaign includes:
Patient education on managing flare-ups, understanding disease progression, and exploring treatment options.
Resources for newly diagnosed patients to help navigate the condition from the start.
Support for emotional wellbeing, including access to the Lung HelpLine and guidance on coping with the psychological impact of chronic lung disease.
Patient stories and insights to amplify the voices of those living with bronchiectasis.
Use of social listening to identify community needs and shape future resources.
Bronchiectasis is more common in women and older adults, and in 40% of cases, the underlying cause is unknown. Treatment often includes airway clearance techniques, inhaled medications, antibiotics to manage infections, and in some cases, oxygen therapy. Though the disease shares some symptoms with COPD, it is a distinct condition and must be treated as such—especially for those living with both diseases.
To learn more about bronchiectasis and access educational materials, visit Lung.org/bronchiectasis.
Support for this awareness campaign is provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.
About the American Lung Association The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.
CONTACT: Jill Dale | American Lung Association P: 312-940-7001 C: 720-438-8289 E: [email protected]
SYDNEY, July 1 (Xinhua) — An Australian study has found that the rapid loss of Antarctic sea ice is directly triggering the collapse of the continent’s ice shelves, establishing a clear link between shrinking sea ice and dramatic ice shelf fractures.
The study tracked sea ice, ocean swells, and ice shelf conditions for years preceding three major calving events, revealing prolonged sea ice loss 6-18 months beforehand and collapse of protective “landfast” ice weeks prior to break-off, according to a release from the University of Melbourne on Tuesday.
The research team, led by the Universities of Melbourne and Adelaide, developed mathematical models quantifying how Southern Ocean swells flex weakened ice shelves once sea ice diminishes, the release said.
“Sea ice is retreating at an unprecedented rate all around Antarctica and our work suggests this will put further pressure on already thinned and weakened ice shelves,” said University of Melbourne Professor Luke Bennetts.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet, with the potential to raise sea levels by over 50 meters, blankets the continent. Its floating ice shelves slow glacier flow, but rapid sea ice loss now threatens these vital barriers, accelerating the risk of global sea-level rise, according to the study published in Nature Geoscience.
With no regular monitoring of ocean waves in Antarctic sea ice and ice shelves, scientists use mathematical models to study how swells, sea ice loss, and ice shelf changes are linked, the study found. Enditem
Global law firm DLA Piper has announced three promotions in its Corporate, Finance, and Litigation and Regulatory practices in its Johannesburg office. Associates Callie Jo Bouman, Malachizodok Mpolokeng and Dharshini Naidoo have all been promoted to Senior Associate.
Callie-Jo has experience of working on a wide range of domestic, cross-border and multinational transactions for public and private companies across the energy and natural resources, financial services, investment management and funds, professional services, real estate and technology sectors.
Malachizodok has advised clients on a wide range of banking and corporate finance transactions, including project and infrastructure finance, leveraged finance, debt restructuring, acquisition finance and debt capital markets transactions.
Dharshini advises clients on competition law matters including merger control across Africa and investigations into prohibited practices such as cartels and abuse of dominance.
The Corporate practice has also appointed a new Senior Associate, Annastasia Nair. Annastasia has experience in general corporate and commercial law, corporate governance, due diligence investigations, corporate reorganisations and M&A.
Johannes Gouws, Country Managing Partner, South Africa, commented: “We would like to congratulate our newly promoted Senior Associates and wish them the very best on this career milestone. The growth of our teams highlights our dedication to achieving excellence for clients globally and is testament to our commitment to nurturing talent in South Africa.”
Is it really a decade since the launch of Apple Music? It is, and the streaming service is celebrating with a shiny new studio space in Los Angeles for its own DJs and external artists to use.
It includes two radio studios; a 4,000 square-foot soundstage for performances; a spatial-audio mixing room; facilities to shoot and edit social-media content; and isolation booths for songwriting, podcasts and interviews.
Similar to Spotify’s strategy with its studios around the world – and Apple’s existing facilities in New York, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris and Nashville – the goal is to build a hub for musicians and podcasters to come and create in.
Alas, no new numbers on how many subscribers Apple Music has to celebrate the anniversary. But the service is launching a ‘Replay All Time’ feature that will show listeners their most-played songs over that first decade (or however long they’ve been on Apple Music) to mark the milestone.
In the dynamic world of tennis, the Kudermetova sisters—Veronika and Polina—shine brightly, not by coincidence but through dedication, resilience, and familial bond. Born into a sports‑obsessed household, they’ve both carved out remarkable paths that speak to their perseverance and drive. Despite the inevitable comparisons between a former top‑10 star and her rising sibling, each has embraced her unique journey. Veronika, already a household name in professional tennis, has paved the way with her powerful serve and impressive doubles triumphs. Polina, the younger sister, is fearlessly creating her own legacy, blending raw talent with mental fortitude. Their story isn’t just one of sibling rivalry—it’s a testament to shared dreams, unwavering support, and the power of lifting each other. In this article, we’ll explore their family roots, highlight Polina’s accomplishments, delve into Veronika’s personal life, and trace the meteoric rise of these two inspiring athletes.
For the Kudermetova sisters, sports runs in the blood
Image via Instagram/ Polina Kudermetova
The foundation of Veronika and Polina’s success lies in their deeply athletic household. Their father, Eduard Kudermetov, was a celebrated ice‑hockey player—twice a Russian national champion—who instilled the values of discipline and grit in his daughters . While information on their mother remains private, it’s clear that both young women benefited from a childhood immersed in sport. Born in Kazan in 1997, Veronika began her tennis journey at age eight and later moved to Moscow to train at the renowned CSKA club. Polina, born June 4, 2003, followed suit, hitting her first tennis ball at seven and embracing the family ethos of athletic excellence.
Polina Kudermetova’s rise to spotlight
The younger Kudermetova has steadily ascended through the ranks with poise and promise. As of April 14, 2025, she reached a career‑high WTA singles ranking of No. 54, later hovering around the mid‑50s by June . She has earned nearly US $891,000 in prize money through consistent performances, including a quarterfinal at the 2023 Korea Open.Polina’s résumé boasts nine ITF singles titles and two doubles titles, evidencing a strong foundation built on the ITF circuit. She made her Grand Slam main‑draw debut at the Australian Open in 2023 and 2025, and her breakthrough came early in 2025, as she stunned top‑10 player Daria Kasatkina en route to a WTA‑500 quarterfinal in Brisbane. Her first top‑10 victory (Kasatkina ranked No. 9) came at that event, highlighting her mental resilience and shot‑making prowess.Known for a two‑handed backhand and a hard‑court preference, Polina plays with maturity beyond her years under coach Ravshan Sultanov. Her tenacity was on full display in Seoul at a WTA‑500 event, where she battled back from down match points to reach the quarters, supported every step of the way by her sister and mother.
Veronika Kudermetova’s legacy in the tennis courts
The elder sister has long been a force in women’s tennis. Born April 24, 1997, Veronika reached a career‑high ranking of No. 9 in singles (October 2022) and No. 2 in doubles (June 2022). She has won two WTA singles titles, including the 2021 Charleston Open, and remains a doubles powerhouse with eight WTA titles, three at the WTA‑1000 level. Veronika’s most notable doubles achievement came when she and Elise Mertens lifted the 2022 WTA Finals trophy, besting Krejcikova and Siniakova . As a singles player, she reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open and the 2021 Wimbledon doubles final.Off the court, Veronika is married to her longtime coach, Sergei Demekhine, a former pro player. The pairing began professionally in 2012 and shifted to romance by 2015; they married in 2017. Despite a 13‑year age gap, their relationship remains strong—Veronika admitted in 2020 that familial and cultural values informed their bond, and that she had sheer admiration for him as her coach long before romance blossomed.
The Kudermetova sisters’ journey to spotlight and victory
From early training sessions to shared locker‑room moments on tour, the Kudermetova sisters have supported and inspired one another. Veronika’s success served as both pathway and motivator for Polina, who has consistently been present at Veronika’s matches—even across continents.Their dual quarterfinal showing at the 2024 Korea Open caught headlines: Veronika defeated Samsonova, while Polina secured her own upset win against Ekaterina Alexandrova. When Veronika lost in a late‑season slump, she credited Polina’s deeper advancement as a wake‑up call. The first official WTA main‑tour sisters‑versus match took place at the 2025 Madrid Open, where Veronika prevailed 6‑2, 6‑2—an emotional yet respectful showdown. Despite it being a rivalry by draw, each has handled the challenge with sportsmanship and mutual pride.A shared philosophy—which Veronika often emphasizes—involves focusing on “point by point” and staying mentally tough, advice Polina creditably applied to her own comeback wins. Their journey, branded by incremental achievements and tangible proof of talent, is one of relentless dedication.The story of Veronika and Polina Kudermetova is more than that of two talented athletes—it’s a heartfelt chronicle of sisterhood, legacy, and relentless pursuit of excellence. With roots planted in a sports‑centric family, they have each forged their own path: Veronika with disciplined skill and a decorated career, Polina with courage and a flame of promise. United by shared values and mutual support, the sisters have shown that success is sweetest when celebrated together. As Polina rises and Veronika continues to thrive, their legacy is destined not only in trophies won, but in the inspiration they provide for future generations of athletes.Also read: Is Iga Swiatek’s patterned misbehavior a subtle indication to a bigger problem?
After finishing school in his hometown of Palermo, Italy, Ruisi joined a local Ro-Pax company as a cadet engineer.
A pivotal moment in Ruisi’s career came when, his vessel docked in Palermo and he noticed a nearby cruise ship, the Costa Marina, and was struck by the contrast between the clean, white uniforms of the engineers aboard the cruise ship and his own oil-stained coveralls. Motivated to pursue new opportunities, he applied to work for Costa Cruises and, within two months, found himself aboard the Costa Marina as a third engineer.
After 12 years at sea, Ruisi moved ashore to work in cruise ship construction. He then joined a class society as a surveyor, further broadening his technical and regulatory expertise. His diverse career also included roles such as superintendent for a chemical tanker company and technical manager for Greenpeace International, where he spent two years. These roles gave Ruisi a comprehensive understanding of different ship types and operational contexts.
Ruisi joined LR in Amsterdam in 2006 as a senior surveyor. His leadership capabilities were quickly spotted, and he was promoted to Senior Surveyor in charge of the Amsterdam office within two years.
In 2009 he took on new challenges in Asia, moving to China to oversee various projects for LR. Over the next decade, he held multiple roles, including Project Manager, Surveyor in Charge for Shanghai Port, and Area Manager overseeing operations in South China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
In 2019 Ruisi moved to Dubai to serve as Operations Manager for the Middle East and Africa, managing LR’s operations the region.
Ruisi moved to the Netherlands in 2022 and now considers it home. There he assumed the role of Commercial Manager for the Benelux region, overseeing a wide range of vessel types.
In August 2024, Ruisi was appointed LR’s VP Global Segment Director for Passenger Ships.
In his spare time, he enjoys travel, reading technical books and cooking for friends.
Daniel Ricciardo has given an update on his situation following his exit from the F1 grid in 2024, with the Australian admitting that he is “enjoying some life in the slow lane” several months on from his last race.
Ricciardo faced a tumultuous few years in the sport in recent times, having been left without a seat entering into 2023 when a difficult spell at McLaren resulted in the mutual decision to terminate his contract early at the end of 2022.
He then returned to the Red Bull stable as a reserve driver before being drafted in to replace Nyck de Vries at the then-named AlphaTauri squad – now known as Racing Bulls – midway through 2023.
While he remained with the outfit into 2024, the driver from Perth struggled to return to his form of old and was replaced by Liam Lawson for the remainder of the campaign following the Singapore Grand Prix.
Ricciardo – who turns 36 today – has not raced since then but has continued to be involved in supporting youngsters in motorsport through the Daniel Ricciardo Series, in which young drivers compete at the wheel of a DRS Ricciardo Kart across events held in the United Kingdom.
The eight-time race winner was in attendance during the latest round at Buckmore Park over the weekend and, when quizzed on how he is getting on at the moment, gave a positive response as he reflected on how his current venture reminds him of his early racing days.
“All good!” said Ricciardo. “I’m just enjoying some life in the slow lane. I mean, it sounds weird saying like retirement when I’m 35 years old, but retirement from at least the world I was living in. It’s cool.
“To be at the kart track… it’s my first time at a race track since I guess Singapore, so quite a few months now. But it’s cool to see the kids… this is why I started karting…
“I’ve had photos with groups of the kids and I can tell the friendships they have, and these friendships will last a lifetime a lot of them. My best friend to this day was a friend that I raced karts with. It’s nice to be back at like the grassroots of it and the most pure form of racing.”
With young karters at the track keen to meet Ricciardo, the former Red Bull driver admitted that he has been able to appreciate what it felt like as a youngster in the sport since taking some time away.
“I think now that I’m a bit removed from it and life is not as chaotic, it’s nice to remember what it was like to be at the start of the career,” he explained. “We all have idols and heroes…
“I would be very nervous meeting someone who I admired, so I understand sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming. But everyone seems pretty cool. I guess maybe I’m not the only driver they’ve met before – there’s a lot of F1 fans here!
“I think just to have someone that you want to try and obviously look up to and someone that can inspire you… if I’m able to sprinkle a tiny bit of inspiration or motivation today by being here and having a chat to a few kids, that’s awesome. That’s something I know I appreciated when I was eight, nine, 10 years old.”
Ricciardo also took a moment to reflect on the one piece of advice that he wished he had received when he was the age of those now in karting.
“I mean, I think I was quite lucky with the advice,” the Australian conceded. “It was always just, ‘Go and have fun’. It wasn’t about trying to impress someone or be someone you’re not. ‘If you do this you’ll be on TV and make money’. It wasn’t about that, it was just, ‘Go and have fun’.
“It kind of helped me also… like racing is scary, you know? I think it helped me at school have a bit more confidence. Everyone’s shy, we all go through things growing up, so I think it kind of gave me confidence in myself as a person, also away from the track. So, that’s something I took from it.
“But as far as the driving goes, honestly it was just about me having fun. I was playing with my friends [at the track], we were riding scooters and stuff, and my dad was always dragging me like, ‘The kart’s on the grid, put your helmet on!’ The karting was kind of secondary a lot of the time. It was just to be in this environment with friends.”
