Tag Archives: year

Trying Times for Russia’s Nesting Dolls

Under the white walls and blue-and-gold cupolas of the Sergiyev Posad monastery, the row of vendors selling nesting dolls and other traditional Russian handicrafts is noticeably shorter this summer. Usually the cheap folding tables, set up in a double row outside the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church, are surrounded by tourists snapping up the iconic egg-shaped souvenirs, made of smaller and smaller wooden dolls hidden one within the other. But on a recent Thursday afternoon, there were only about a dozen people looking to buy

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Recession Hits Summer Camp: Parents Seek Deals on Fees

In the five years since Jed Dorfman has been running Camp Walt Whitman, a posh haven complete with waterskiing and private boats in Piermont, N.H., that charges as much as $9,450 for a seven-week stay, he has had to work out payment plans and extend deadlines to help one or two families. Until this year, that is

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Murray: ‘I’m ready to win Wimbledon’

World number three and Britain’s great tennis hope, Andy Murray, has told CNN he is ready to win Wimbledon at this year’s tournament. The 22-year-old kicks off his bid to become the first home-grown player to win the men’s title at the All England Club for 73 years, when he takes on America’s Robby Kendrick today. Kendrick, the world 76, has lost all three of his previous meetings with Murray, boosting the Scot’s hopes he can match Fred Perry’s feat of lifting the title back in 1936.

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English flanker Croft named in Lions side

The British and Irish Lions will face world champions South Africa in Saturday’s opening rugby Test — and they enter the Durban clash full of confidence after winning all their six tour games so far. The Lions — a touring representative side featuring the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales — only come together every four years and they tour New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in strict rotation

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African couples urged to get HIV ‘love test’

Couples in the African kingdom of Swaziland are being urged to get tested together as part of a HIV "love test" campaign. The nationwide initiative — funded by the United States government and implemented by global charity ‘Population Services International’ (PSI) — is aimed at couples because tests can be useless if partners are not aware of the others’ HIV status. “If partners get tested separately, they may not disclose the results and not get the support they need,” Dominic McNeill, spokesman for PSI Swaziland, told CNN.

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Solo yachtswoman on food cravings and sleep deprivation

British solo round-the-world sailor Dee Caffari happily admits that you need to be a little bit ‘mad’ to take on long-distance sailing. And she should know: Caffari became the first woman to sail single-handedly around the world in both directions after completing the solo round-the-world race, Vendee Globe, earlier this year. “People say you must be mad — and there probably is an element of truth in that,” the 36 year-old told CNN.

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Shooting at Thai mosque kills 10, police say

Gunmen believed to be linked to an Islamic militant group opened fire Monday in a mosque in Thailand, killing 10 people, a police official said. The 27-year-old midfielder is currently on international duty ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Wednesday but was released for the medical tests in the north-eastern city of Recife

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Kaka has medical ahead of $100M Real deal

Kaka moved closer to a reported $100 million move to Real Madrid on Monday when the AC Milan star had a medical in Brazil at the request of the Spanish Primera Liga giants, his Federation said. The 27-year-old midfielder is currently on international duty ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Wednesday but was released for the medical tests in the north-eastern city of Recife. Kaka is set to become the first of the new wave of ‘galacticos’ brought together under the leadership of returning club president Florentino Perez.

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